Drivers urge govt to provide security

Stage protest in capital; company says they are working with LEAs to provide security

ISLAMABAD: Drivers of a ride-hailing application have urged the government to take steps to provide security to them as they drive around the twin cities a day after one of their colleagues was gunned down in Rawalpindi.

Dozens of drivers of the ride-hailing service along with senior officials of the service, Careem, gathered at the National Press Club on Wednesday afternoon to protest against what was the second murder of their colleagues in as many months in the twin cities.

“This tragedy has occurred for the second time in 20 days,” said Careem General Manager Omer Zabit while addressing a news conference.



“We need to ensure, that there are regulations and laws – when the laws are made we must enforce them strictly and strongly,” he said, adding that the incidents had caused them great sorrow and grief.

He further said that it was the government’s primary responsibility to protect the life and property of a citizen. Notwithstanding, he added that they were working on a plan to ensure the safety of the passengers and their drivers. In this regards, he said that they may limit rides to certain areas after a certain time of the day.

Moreover, he said that they were also in touch with the National Database Regulatory Authority (NADRA) to find a solution to the issue.

“We are in a state of shock and sorrow,” said Shaukat, a Careem ‘captain’ (the title handed to drivers), during the news conference.

“Unfortunately, after around a year and a half, a situation develops such that we do not feel secure and our families ask us not to leave,” he said expressing a sense of fear in working late hours and in certain parts of the capital.



“We urge the government to take all necessary steps to ensure our safety and allow us to earn a respectable living,” he added.

Another driver said that he used to drive until 2am. However, after the two incidents, he now turns his engine off at around 10pm.

“I urge all government departments to provide us with security,” he urged.

Meanwhile, responding to queries on Twitter, Careem said that they were introducing a number of safety features for passengers and their drivers including in-ride insurance, captain background checks, call masking, verification code for user contact number.

“We are also urging the authorities to take notice of the law and order situation to ensure safety of citizens,” the company said.

“We are already in [the] process of making safety committees in each city which will include captains, customers, and LEAs (law enforcement agencies) to collectively develop strategies against such crimes,” it said in another reply.



Separately, Junaid Iqbal, a senior executive of Careem, said that apart from providing in-car insurance of the driver and the passenger, they urge drivers to avail a special car insurance.

Late on Monday, that 22-year-old Sajawal Ameer, who was a captain with ride-hailing service Careem, had been shot five times by gunmen as they tried to snatch his car in the Lakhu area within the remits of the Naseerabad police station.

Naseerabad police said that the suspects had apparently tried to flee with Ameer’s car but since a tracker was installed in the vehicle, the tracking device switched the engine off  after travelling outside the pre-determined area.

His murder came weeks after 26-year-old Careem Captain Junaid Mustafa was shot dead in Islamabad and his car was snatched by a man who had booked the ride.

The suspect, in that case, had been traced and arrested two days later. 

Published in The Express Tribune, March 15^th, 2018.