Crackdown: 50 unregistered rickshaws confiscated

MINGORA:

At least 50 unregistered rickshaws were confiscated by the district police in an operation conducted in various parts of Swat on Friday. 

Shakeel Ahmad, a police official, told The Express Tribune, the operation was launched in Kabal, Matta, Charbagh and Mingora tehsils where 50 rickshaws were seized.

The official said these rickshaws were manufactured in the local market and heavy engines had been installed in them.

“Local mechanics take out engine from Suzuki vehicles and install them into these rickshaws,” he said. “This is done without the government’s approval.”

According to Ahmad, such vehicles pose a security threat as they are not registered.

However, some rickshaw drivers told The Express Tribune they are unaware of the illegal practice.

Gulab Jan, whose rickshaw was confiscated by Mingora police, said no one had warned him about the practice when he sold his old rickshaws to buy a new one.

Meanwhile, 22 rickshaws bearing registration numbers of other districts were banned from carrying out business in Swat.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 8^th, 2015.