The Senate Standing Committee on Communications has directed the National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP) to stop checking citizens’ marriage certificates during routine operations, emphasizing that such practices should not continue.
The directive was issued during a committee meeting chaired by Senator Pervaiz Rashid, where members reviewed matters related to the performance and responsibilities of the Motorway Police. Senator Rashid expressed concern over reports that officers had been asking couples to present marriage certificates during roadside checks. He questioned the legal basis for such actions and instructed the department to ensure that no such checks are conducted in the future.
During the same meeting, Senator Saifullah Abro also raised objections regarding an NHMP handout that allegedly mentioned senators by name. He questioned how the Motorway Police had concluded that certain recovered items were linked to specific individuals and sought an explanation from the department.
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Responding to the committee, the Inspector General of the Motorway Police stated that the force’s primary responsibility is to enforce the law where necessary and that it should avoid making comments about any individual or institution beyond its legal mandate.
Senator Pervaiz Rashid praised the Motorway Police for its generally positive public reputation but stressed that maintaining public trust requires officers to act strictly within the limits of the law. He instructed the department to ensure that future operations respect citizens’ privacy and remain focused on road safety and lawful enforcement.
The committee’s recommendations are intended to reinforce professional policing standards while preserving the credibility and public confidence that the Motorway Police has built over the years.
