Bottled up anger: A ‘token’ of public appreciation

Hundreds rally against new toll tax by CDG, beat up toll employees.

FAISALABAD:

Hundreds of citizens staged a demonstration on Faisalabad-Samundari Road against the abrupt imposition of a toll tax by the City District Government.

Traffic in the city, remained suspended for hours on end. The demonstrators also thrashed some toll tax collectors leading to a brawl between the two groups. Over 16 people were injured in the clash. The demonstrators also pelted stones and were chanting slogans against the CDG functionaries, demanding the immediate withdrawal of the toll tax.

According to passersby, several protesters began to hand over bottle caps in place of tokens at the toll booths. When the toll tax collectors chased after them to claim the money, they beat them with empty soda bottles. “It was complete mayhem.

Dozens of toll employees walked away bleeding after the protesters smashed glass bottles on their heads,” said commuter Rizwan Shams.

Later during the day, a delegation of protesters was constituted to hold meetings with the district coordination officer (DCO) who is also in charge of the CDG as an administrator.

The DCO assured the protesters that he would move the Punjab government to withdraw the toll tax. Meanwhile, the injured toll booth employees were taken to Allied Hospital for treatment. “We cannot stand by and let this happen again. The government keeps imposing levies,  taxes and increasing fuel prices. All the while we are still starving. Now they are taxing us and we will continue protesting,” said protestor Saleem.

Similar altercations were also reported along the Faisalabad-Jaranwala and Faisalabad-Sheikhpura Roads where similar toll booths had been set up. Motorists claimed that the CDG had imposed the toll tax without any prior announcement.  They demanded that the toll tax imposed on the roads be withdrawn immediately.

The CDG recently imposed a toll tax on all the major roads of the city. According to the toll tax schedule, henceforth all the motorists will have to pay toll tax and car owners have to pay Rs20/; wagons Rs30/; buses, trucks Rs50/ and long vehicles are liable to pay Rs120/- per trip on all the mentioned roads.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 3^rd, 2011.