Metro bus service remains suspended

Closure of service causes losses of millions of rupees to exchequer

RAWALPINDI:

The metro bus service between Rawalpindi and Islamabad remained suspended for the fourth consecutive day after it was shut following the eruption of violent protests over the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief and former prime minister Imran Khan.

Protesters had set the Sixth Road metro bus station on fire.

The protesters had also attacked and vandalised Khatm—Nabuat and Faizabad stations where protestors break glass and CCTV cameras. The protestors also damaged the washrooms of the Committee Chowk station. Unknown people also looted almost Rs0.5 million from the ticketing booth of the Sixth Road station.

The suspension of the metro bus service has caused over Rs100 million in loses to the exchequer.

More than 1,60,000 people travel in metro buses between the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad daily. A one-way ticket from Rawalpindi to Pak Secretariat Islamabad costs Rs30. The metro bus facility is a big relief for the working class, labourers and public servants and private employees who daily commute in bus.

When Imran Khan was arrested from the Islamabad High Court premises on May 9, riots and protests started in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The protesters vandalised property and installations including metro bus stations in the twin cities after clashes with the police.

Protestors also damaged infrastructure, railway tracks and stations of the metro bus after which the bus operation was suspended on May 5.

Police personnel have been deployed but angry protestors attacked and burned the Sixth Road station. The said station burned to the hill before the fire was put out. The whole station and ticketing booths were also destroyed.

Officials said that the metro bus service may be operational from Saturday but no decision has been made yet.

They said that if the local administration cleared the security, the service will be made operational immediately. Due to the suspension of the service, people who travel between Rawalpindi and Islamabad daily have to face a lot of problems as no direct bus service is available for them.

Saad said that he works in Islamabad and the metro bus is the best and easy way to reach his workplace on time. He said that due to the suspension of the service, he had to hire private transport which is making a big hole in his pocket.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 13^th, 2023.