Transport strike: Flying coach union protests against political administration

Says assistant political agent imposes fines, impounds vehicles for no reason.

LANDIKOTAL: The owners and drivers of flying coaches in Landikotal were on strike on Monday in protest against fines for offenses they claim to have not committed. The union of owners and drivers demanded Landikotal Assistant Political Agent Tayyab Abdullah be transferred as, they said, he is the one behind “illegally” impounding their vehicles. The protesters asked the authorities to release vehicles which were impounded without any reason.

Drivers from several areas participated in the strike with the exception of those from Jamrud.

Union elders decried the policies set by the political administration. They said the administration imposed a policy asking the drivers to pay fines to the authorities, not the victim, if they hit someone in the area. An amount of Rs0.5 million is to be paid by the driver if the victim dies and if the person survives with injuries, then the driver is to pay Rs0.2 million. The policy was called “illogical” since the family of the victim deserves the compensation, not the political administration, said the protesters.

A government jirga met the protesting transporters and offered to settle the matter through negotiations on Tuesday (today). However, the union elders refused the offer, saying they will keep the engines cold till their demands are fulfilled.

All activities in Khyber Agency came to a halt because of this transport strike prompting locals to ask the government and political administration to settle the issue with the union. The strike was ongoing till the filing of this report.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 5^th, 2015.