Transport fares: Driver’s face blackened for breaking strike

He was operating his vehicle, despite strike against reduction in fares.

FAISALABAD:

A bus driver was beaten up and his face was blackened by his colleagues near Tandlianwala Bus Stand for operating his vehicle during a strike called by transporters against reduction in fares mandated by the provincial government.

Transporters operating from Tandlianwala Bus Stand had announced a strike against reduction in transport fares notified by the government following reduction in fuel prices. Scores of transporters were protesting against reduction in transport fares on Sunday at the bus stand. They gathered on Faisalabad-Okara Road and blocked it for traffic.

During the protest, Atif Sohail a van driver, began loading passengers in his vehicle and tried to move towards the city. The protesters stopped him and pulled him out of the van.

They beat him up for ignoring their call for strike. They also blackened his face and paraded him around the area.

On being informed, a police team reached the scene and rescued him. Police detained two people and drove away the others.

The Tandlianwala SHO told The Express Tribune that Sohail had not submitted an assault complaint against his colleagues. He said no case had been registered in this regard.

Flying Coaches Owners Association spokesman Qurban Ali said the strike had been announced on Friday. He said Atif had violated the call for strike.

“Later, Atif and the protesters came to an agreement and he promised not to press charges,” he said.

Ali said though government had reduced fuel prices, tax rates had not been cut. “We have to cover our costs,” he said. Transporters operating from Samundri Bus Station also observed a strike.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Abdul Ghani, a transporter, said “We are charging Rs50 from Samundri to Faisalabad after which we make Rs400 per day.”

“If we reduce fares as proposed by the government, we’ll make Rs200,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 9^th, 2015.