Not Khushhaal, not Express: Passengers beaten up for protesting three-day delay

The train was scheduled to arrive in Peshawar on March 19.

MULTAN:

At least three people were injured in a baton charge by the police to disperse the protesters at the Multan railway station on Wednesday.

Passengers of the Khushaal Express that left Karachi on March 18 and was meant to arrive in Peshawar on 19th protested against the Pakistan Railway for not reaching their destination even after three days.

The passengers reached Layyah on Wednesday, from where the train was taken to Multan, which was not on its scheduled route.

Some of the frustrated passengers protested against the apathy of the authorities. Some lay down on the train track with their children. Others chanted slogans against the department. Some of them blocked the track and vowed not to let any engine leave the station until their train was sent in its way.

The protest continued for several hours. Some PR officials requested the protesters to calm down but eventually police were called in and baton charged at the demonstrators.

Some of the protesters then went over to picket the Shalimar Express track. Another baton charge by the police forced them to disperse. At least three men were injured. They were given first aid on the spot. Police said no one was arrested.

Talking to The Express Tribune most of the passengers accused railway authorities of total apathy. They said their attitude made it hard for those travelling with children and old people. Some of them said they had to face the problems because railways realised that those travelling by trains were poor.

A railway official speaking on condition of anonymity told The Express Tribune that the engine had developed a problem at Layyah station. He said an engine had been brought from Khanewal to haul the train. He said the train would leave Multan by the Wednesday night and was expected to reach Peshawar by March 23.

Muhammad Saleem, a passenger, said he had to reach Peshawar to attend a family wedding, said that he had been on the roads for the third day. He said he did not have money left to buy a bus ticket and had no option but to wait for the train. He demanded that the PR pay compensation to the affected passengers.

Shakeel, travelling with his family of three, said that they had been made to wait at Layyah station for 24 hours. He said the food they were carrying with them had run out and so had the money. “I had not imagined this journey will become so long,” he said.

Another passenger complained, “The officials have abandoned us in the middle of the journey. We have no idea when we will ever reach our destination.”

Some other Khushaal Express passengers also faced similar predicament on Wednesday, when one of its engine heading to Peshawar from Karachi went out of order at Dera Ghazi Khan for more than 24 hours. It had also left on March 18th.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 22^nd, 2012.