Bus stand's transfer prompts protest call

Municipal corporation union president arrested, sent to Jhelum jail

RAWALPINDI:

Despite the imposition of Section 144, a protest has been announced against the decision to transfer the General Bus Stand in Pirwadhai from the Municipal Corporation to the Regional Transport Authority.

The president of the Municipal Corporation's Collective Bargaining Agent (CBA) union has been arrested under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance and sent to Jhelum jail.

Deputy Commissioner and Municipal Corporation Administrator Nadeem Nasir visited the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC) office and convened a meeting of supervisors working under the Suthra Punjab programme.

He said exemplary cleanliness must be ensured in accordance with the chief minister's vision and that there would be no protests, only work. He added that his doors were open to those willing to work.

The secretary of the Regional Transport Authority was appointed administrator of the General Bus Stand in Pirwadhai, which operates under the Municipal Corporation.

In response, CBA union president Haroonur Rashid called for a protest, refusing to accept the decision. He is facing trial in a May 9 case and had been suspended from service, but was continuing to perform his duties as union president while on bail.

However, he was arrested under Section 144 and sent to Jhelum jail. He was also made to vacate his official residence.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner and Municipal Corporation Administrator Nadeem Nasir made a surprise visit to the Municipal Corporation office on Friday and summoned a meeting of Suthra Punjab supervisors. Chief Officer of the Municipal Corporation Faisal Shehzad was also present.

Addressing the meeting, the deputy commissioner said no one should assume that their job was permanent. Those who worked would remain employed. He said he would recruit even 600 new workers if necessary to ensure cleanliness in the city.

"There will be no protests, only work," he said, adding that the supervisors should consider whether a person who could not protect himself could protect them.

He urged the workers to focus on their duties and assured them that their problems would be addressed. He said his office doors would remain open to them from 9:30am to 11:30am.

Whether the issue concerned their children's school fees, medicines or any other difficulty, he said, efforts would be made to resolve it.