Lahore is safer than London, says Talal Chaudhry

Islamabad: Minister of State for Interior Senator Talal Chaudhry has said that Pakistan is the world’s fifth most populous country and Lahore is safer than London.

During a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior, the committee chairman, while discussing the issue of black-tinted vehicle windows, stated that an additional fee is charged for such windows in other countries.

He suggested that anyone using tinted windows for security reasons or personal preference should pay a prescribed fee.

The chairman further remarked that in the committee’s previous meeting it had been decided that no action should be taken until a clear policy was formulated. Despite this, fines of Rs50,000 were imposed on citizens.

Responding to the concerns, Senator Talal Chaudhry said the committee should guide the ministry, adding that there was currently no formal policy at either the provincial or federal level.

The chairman questioned how fines were being imposed in the absence of a policy, to which Talal Chaudhry replied that enforcement was being carried out under an existing excise law.

He also stated that certificates allowing tinted windows were issued a decade ago but were widely misused.

According to him, black-tinted windows have now become a fashion trend, with people often citing skin conditions as an excuse. He added that a law imposing a Rs50,000 fine already exists.

During the meeting, committee member Samina Mumtaz raised serious security concerns, saying the police were failing to ensure public safety.

She referred to an incident in Katcha where six police personnel allegedly raped a minor girl, and noted that one committee member had already been martyred due to security threats.

In response, Senator Talal Chaudhry said that Pakistan is the world’s fifth largest country and that rape incidents occur globally, adding that Lahore is safer than London.

Senator Talha Mahmood objected to the comparison, stating that in Upper Dir people were being stopped and their throats slit, questioning how Pakistan could be described as safer than cities such as London or New York.