Car parking mafia is active illegally.

THE Sindh High Court (SHC) had earlier this year ordered the relevant authorities to take action against the illegal parking mafia that has been busy 'charging' parking fee from motorists across Karachi ('Drive against illegal parking spaces in city begins today, SHC told' [Jan 18]). But it seems the orders fell on the infamously deaf ears of the relevant authorities, for the parking mafia thugs continue to 'charge' the same fee and to harass the citizens over even a polite argument.

One always experiences unauthorised people collecting illegal parking fees at several places, especially at and around commercial areas, such as Saddar, Tariq Road and even the commercial hubs that are now a part of almost every residential area, like, say, North Nazim-abad, Gulshan-i-Iqbal and others. These people are backed by influential groups and individuals who mint millions of rupees round the year, every year and year after year.

If someone goes along with his family to a place where these goons operate and does not have change, or simply refuses to pay them, these people harass and humiliate them for Rs50. Why is there no action taken against them?

To make matters worse, these people do not take responsibility of the safety of the vehicles. Even the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) does not provide safety to the vehicles despite collecting parking fees for which it has earned the ire of the higher judiciary recently ('Lack of security at charged parking spaces angers SHC' [Nov 10]).

If someone refuses to pay, the people...