Car Used in Lahore Blast was Sold on Open Letter
Recently, a terrible incident happened in Johar Town, Lahore. Someone planted 15 kilograms of explosive material inside a parked car in the middle of a busy area. The bomb blast took the lives of three people, left 24 injured, and damaged the houses and shops nearby. We are very sorry for everyone’s loss. The investigation has found out that the car used in the blast was sold on an open letter. Here are the details.
The investigation revealed Zafar Khan Tarrar, of Mandi Bahaudin, as the first owner of the bomb-laden vehicle. Later, the police found out that the car had been sold four times after his ownership. All the vehicle transfers were made on open letters. The irony!
The police called in all the owners of the car for questioning, and each one had to prove that they indeed sold the vehicle. This has alarmed the people who have done the same with their vehicle transfers. If the cars they have long sold on open letters are used in such criminal acts, their name will come up in the investigation, and they will be dragged in the questioning, just like Tarrar.
No More Open Transfer Letters In Punjab
The Punjab Excise and Taxation Department has already alerted the citizens to register open letter vehicles in the owner’s name. The deadline for doing so is till the 30th of June. That means open letter vehicle owners still have two days to get their vehicles transferred to their name with the existing method of the transfer deed. If not, both buyer and seller of the vehicle will have to visit the Excise office for biometric vehicle transfer.
Director of the Motor Branch Region C, Qamar-ul-Hasan Sajjad, says that the biometric verification system would end this culture of buying and selling vehicles on open letters. We hope so, too.
How to check if the vehicle you sold is still registered in your name?
If you have ever sold your vehicle and are in doubt whether it’s still registered in your name or not, you can go to the Excise and Taxation website and check. If yes, contact the current owner and get them to transfer the vehicle ASAP.