ISLAMABAD, June 20: Commuters in Islamabad and Rawalpindi on Thursday had to wait for hours at bus stops as public transporters on the roads between the two cities observed strike and threatened to continue the protest on Friday as well.
The capital administration on Wednesday launched a campaign against the transporters to limit the number of CNG cylinders in their vehicles to just one.
Around 40 transport wagons were impounded and 10 drivers detained in different police stations.
The capital administration said the move was in line with a decision of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that public transport vehicles should have only one CNG cylinder.
Due to the three-day weekly CNG loadshedding, the transporters have installed more than one cylinders in their vehicles that too under passengers seats, threatening public safety.
While the court decision was taken on May 31, the local administration swung into action on Wednesday as it had to submit a compliance report to the IHC on Thursday.
“Now when our men and vehicles have been taken into custody, there is no point for us to be on the roads,” said Haji Mohammad Nawaz, the chairman of the twin cities transporters association.
Due to the strike, especially of route No 1 wagons which run between Rawalpindi Saddar and Pakistan Secretariat in Islamabad, Route No 7 (from Golra Mor to Soan Camp) and Route No 24 (from Chungi No 22 to F-8), passengers were seen stranded at bus stops under the sizzling heat.
Those who hired rickshaws or taxis had to pay double fares while others were seen walking towards their destinations. Many passengers were also seen seeking lift from passing vehicles.
In Rawalpindi, Abida Hussain, a receptionist at a private company, said she was going to Zero Point but there were no public transport. She said she along with three others passengers working at Blue Area hired a taxi to reach the office.
Naseer Khan, who travelled from Sadder to Blue Area, said transporters should have informed the passengers prior to the strike so they could make arrangements. “I have spent Rs1,000 to reach my office and back home today,” he said.
“I have to walk from Tipu Road to Committee Chowk in search of a taxi because there were no wagons,” said Faiza Chaudhry, a schoolteacher who had to go to the school at 6th Road for a summer camp.
“The strike will continue on Friday. The transporters are being asked to remove cylinders from compartment of passengers and beneath the seats. But the Rawalpindi and Islamabad administrations do not allow us to install the cylinders on the rooftop of vehicles,” said Malik Sultan Awan, another office-bearer of the twin cities transporters association.
He said the transporters were ready to have only one cylinder in each vehicle if CNG was available seven days a week.
When contacted, Regional Transport Authority Secretary Awais Manzoor Tarrar said he was not aware of the reason behind the strike. “We have not done anything wrong against the transporters but are working to ensure public safety,” he said.
He said the transporters had informed him about the strike on Thursday. “I tried to convince them not to do this for the sake of public but they didn’t understand. I have called a meeting on Friday and we will manage to bring back the transport on the road,” he said.