Protest by APEOTA leads to four torched oil tankers

KARACHI:

Two oil tankers hired by the National Logistics Cell (NLC) were set on fire during a clash between the All Pakistan Edible Oil Tankers Association (APEOTA) and NLC, at the National Highway near Port Qasim on Friday. Almost a dozen people were also injured.

The confrontation took place when the APEOTA members staged a demonstration against the allotment of edible oil transportation contracts to NLC. The protesters blocked the National Highway with their tankers.

During the protest, men set four oil tankers on fire leading to an armed clash between the members of both groups. The brawl lasted for more than five hours leading to a gridlock at the highway. At least 12 people were reported injured.

Bin Qasim SHO Huzoor Buksh said that one of the oil tankers was completely destroyed while the rest were partially damaged.

The APEOTA chairman, Bakhtawar Wazir, alleged that the NLC and Pakistan Vanaspati Manufacturers Association (PVMA) are deliberately trying to close the association’s business. “We are poor people and our livelihood is completely dependent on our vehicles.”

The APEOTA has modified 5,500 oil tankers, with a capacity of 25 tons, especially for the transport of edible oil in the country. The modification cost per tanker was Rs1.3 million. “We modified our tankers to meet the conditions of PVMA and also offered a 60 per cent decrease in our fares,” said Wazir.

Wazir told The Express Tribune that since the NLC does not own its own tankers, it brought two contractors a month back, namely Unique and Raja Saeed, which have 550 vehicles with a 60 ton capacity. Consequently, the association was given 50 per cent of the oil transportation, but for the past three days they have had no work.

“The NLC and PVMA, along with police, opened fire on our people and at least 15 of our people were injured.” Wazir also claimed that two of the torched tankers belonged to the APEOTA.

The 20-year-old association has given a deadline till 12 pm today for the acceptance of their demands. “If our demands are not met, we will block the National Highway again.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 18^th, 2012.