The Provincial Ombudsman of Sindh has ruled that conflicting vehicle verification records maintained by the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) are unlawful and detrimental, causing significant financial hardship and distress to vehicle owners across the province. The landmark public interest decision addresses a long-standing issue where recovered stolen vehicles are shown differently in online and telephonic checks.
In his historic decision, Provincial Ombudsman Mohammad Sohail Rajput stated that the lack of uniformity between the CPLC”s two verification methods results in vehicles being substantially undervalued at the time of sale. This inconsistency, he noted, not only inflicts monetary loss and mental anguish on sellers but also casts serious doubt on a vehicle”s legal standing, according to a statement today.
Mr Rajput has directed the CPLC to ensure that once a stolen vehicle is recovered and all legal requirements are fulfilled, its status must be shown as “cleared” across all its verification systems without exception. He further mandated that the organisation must review its Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to align them with a Lahore High Court judgment (PLD 2026 Lahore 84) and prevailing international best practices.
The ruling was issued while deciding on a complaint filed by Mohammad Ali Lashari. The complainant detailed that his vehicle, which was stolen and subsequently recovered in 2006, still carries a conflicting record nearly two decades later, despite having been legally transferred to three subsequent owners before him.
According to Mr Lashari, while CPLC’s online portal shows his vehicle”s record as clear, a telephonic inquiry reveals its status as ‘cleared but was stolen.’ He argued that this failure to properly update its central record has caused him financial loss and legal complications, asserting that this is a common problem impacting hundreds of citizens.
Taking notice of the complaint, the Ombudsman’s office summoned both parties and examined the case during several hearings. The CPLC was also instructed to present its SOPs for review but failed to submit them. The organisation has now been given 45 days to submit a full compliance report on the Ombudsman”s directives.