Enough is enough: Rickshaw drivers protest against fines

Rickshaws parked at intersection in Faisalabad hold up traffic.

FAISALABAD:

Rickshaw drivers staged a demonstration on Wednesday in Faisalabad to protest against the city traffic police for imposing, what they called, heavy fines on them.

The demonstrators parked their rickshaws in GTS Chowk and blocked the busy intersection for hours.

Usman Ali, one of the protesters, told the journalists traffic wardens fined them heavily even for minor violations. “Even though we abide by traffic rules the wardens challan us to meet their daily quotas,” he said.

“We hardly earn Rs500-600 daily, but we often have to pay all of it to the traffic police in the form of fines,” the rickshaw driver said.

“When our entire earning goes to the government in fines, how can we feed our children?” another protester, Muhammad Saleem, asked. “They (traffic wardens) show no mercy to rickshaw drivers. Even though we appeal to them for leniency, they never do,” he said. The rickshaw drivers also chanted slogans against the traffic police. During the protest, rickshaw drivers also beat up a young man who tried to cross the blocked road. Police rescued the man, who was taken to a hospital for treatment. Following the incident, a heavy police contingent reached the area and dispersed the rickshaw drivers.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 26^th, 2014.

Speaking at the ceremony, the NAB DG praised the bureau’s investigation teams who had recovered the money.

He urged the public to take extra care while investing their money, especially with non-regulated enterprises, because many risks were involved.

“The electronic and print media should also play an active role in saving people from scams by creating awareness among the masses about corruption and corrupt practices,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 26^th, 2014.