Pillion riders, rickshaws and minibuses step up

Strike call by Karachi Transport Ittehad fails to reach rickshaws and minibuses which step up to help out residents.

KARACHI:

The strike call by Karachi Transport Ittehad (KTI) failed to reach rickshaws and minibuses which stepped up to help out residents on Thursday.

The call for an indefinite strike starting Thursday was made to condemn the recent increase in the prices of petroleum products. As public transport stayed off the streets, Qingqi rickshaws, pickup trucks, minibuses and motorcyclists offered their services. The removal of the pillion-riding ban was much appreciated.

Minibuses, such as Marwat Coach and M1, operated their vehicles on different routes while the green buses were also spotted at their usual stops.

The KTI claimed, however, that their strike was extremely successful. Another confederation of transporters, called National Transport Ittehad, Sindh (NTIS), which has 18 member organisations, also made similar claims in a press statement.

As he thanked the members for their support, NTIS chief Saleem Bangash said that Sindh Transport Minister Akhtar Hussain Jadoon assured that fares will be increased in line with the petrol price hike. “We are not demanding a rise in fares but we want a slashing of petroleum prices,” Bangash clarified.

Jadoon requested that the transporters postpone the strike for March 4 and March 5. The NTIS initially accepted the request and cancelled the strike only to change their claim a few hours later. According to the statement, the transporters were to hold negotiations with Jadoon today (March 4) but the meeting was also cancelled later.

It was learned that the KTI and other major transporters’ bodies negotiated with the government but there was no success. KTI announced that it will continue its indefinite strike. NTIS pledged its support as well. Karachi University point buses were working as usual but they were unable to carry the increased load.

Sunni Tehreek strike today

Sunni Tehreek (ST) also called for a strike on Friday to condemn the increase in petroleum prices. This call was supported by all opposition parties, including Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz, Pakistan Muslim League - Quaid, Tehreek-e-Insaaf, Sindh National Party, Sindh National Front Party, Punjabi Pakhtoon Ittehad, Tanzeem al Afghan and All Traders Association, said ST information secretary Fahimuddin Shaikh. The party will also organise a motorcycle rally which will start from UP Morr in New Karachi and end at Shah Faisal Colony. The motorcycles represent people from the middle class, who are suffering most from this price hike, he explained.

With additional input from PPI and APP

Published in The Express Tribune, March 4^th, 2011.