Demonstration: Train passengers wreak havoc at Rohri

Political supporters protest at the station, demanding a ‘special train’.

SUKKUR:

Protesters shattered windows, broke furniture and ransacked the Rohri Railway Station master and station master’s offices on Monday morning when hundreds of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) supporters got upset with a ‘delay’ in the ‘special train’ from Larkana.

PPP supporters from the Punjab were visiting Larkana to attend the 32nd death anniversary of party founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in Garhi Khuda Bux on Sunday. At 8:30 am on Monday, the train from Larkana Railway Station stopped at Rohri Railway Station and passengers said it was because there was a problem with the engine.

Rohri station master Sagheer Ahmed clarified that no fault developed with the ‘special train’. “The passengers were protesting against [us] because they opposed our decision to divide the train’s eight coaches to follow their original route. They wanted the ‘special train’ to take them back to the Punjab,” he explained.

Four coaches were attached to the Jaffer Express from Lahore, two coaches to the Shah Rukn-e-Alam from Multan and two more to the Faisalabad night coach to facilitate the PPP supporters, who wanted to reach Larkana in time for the anniversary, he said.

When all three trains reached Rohri railway station on Sunday, all eight coaches were combined to go to Larkana. On Monday, the same trains brought the supporters back to Rohri, where the coaches were meant to follow their original route.

According to railway authorities, they tried to get the passengers on their way after three hours of protesting but they started stoning their offices.

Ahmed said that the PPP supporters opposed the railway authority’s decision, which was not justified because the the passengers were booked for different trains.

“The protesters attacked my office and other offices, damaging the furniture, doors and windows,” he said. “We had no choice [then] but to run the ‘special train’ with eight coaches.” At about 2:30 pm, another locomotive was attached to the train, which was set on its way to the Punjab.

Although there were heavy contingents of police at the station, they did nothing to stop the protesters.

Sukkur Railways Divisional Superintendent Roshan Ali Mangi told The Express Tribune that he was in Lahore for a meeting but ordered the officials to allow a separate locomotive for the special train.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 5^th,  2011.