‘Highhandedness’: Rickshaw drivers protest against traffic wardens

Ali Raza, one of the protestors, told media that traffic warden had impounded his rickshaw for a violation.

FAISALABAD:

Scores of rickshaw drivers in Faisalabad on Saturday staged a protest demonstration against a traffic warden they accused of stealing rickshaw parts.

Ali Raza, one of the protestors, told the media that a traffic warden had impounded his rickshaw for a violation on Thursday.

“When I went to collect the rickshaw after paying the fine I found that the battery and some other parts were missing,” he said.He said, “I went to Rana Sohail, the traffic police sector incharge, to file a complaint… [But] instead of taking action against the warden he threatened me with dire consequences if I brought the matter up.”

Raza alleged that when he told him that he would take the matter to the chief traffic officer, Sohail beat him up. “He untied his belt and started hitting me with it,” he said. The protestors blocked Jhang Road and chanted slogans against the traffic police. They demanded that immediate action be taken against the warden accused of stealing rickshaw parts. The protest ended when Jhang Bazaar police officials assured the protestors that the matter would be dealt with in accordance with law.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 2^nd, 2014.