Commuters experience another tough day: one transporter group to end strike today

Transport owners in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Sunday continued their unannounced wheel-jam strike, and did not bring their vans on the routes, giving another tough day to poor commuters.
The situation multiplied the plights of the inter-city commuters for the third consecutive day and also disturbed the commercial and other activities to a significant level.
No public transport was seen on the routes of the twin cities, giving the poor commuters yet another tough day forcing them to stay in their homes.
The public transport vehicles plying on routes No 1 between Rawalpindi Sadar and Secretariat; route No 6 from Rawalpindi Sadar to Lal Quarters; route No I-C from Islamabad Bari Imam to Rawalpindi Sadar; route No 3 from Bari Imam to Raja Bazar; route No 21 (Soan to Peshawar Mor); route No 7 from Soan Camp to Pak Secretariat; route 120 from Bari Imam to Golra; and route 105 from Aabpara to G-11 observed complete strike.
The two cities depicted completely deserted picture in the wake of the strike and those who came out of their homes had to stand for hours at the bus stops and fell prey to the monopoly of the cabs owners, who are considered to be champions to cash such situations.
Meanwhile, according to latest updates, transport owners were divided as far as continuation of their strike is concerned. One group decided to call off the strike from Monday and intends to bring the transport onto the roads, while the another group still sticks to its guns and has decided to continue strike till fulfilling of demands.
Talking to Business Recorder, General Secretary of Islamabad-Rawalpindi Transport Union, Dilawar Hussain Gardezi, said that his group had decided to call off the strike from Monday and would ply their transport on the respective routes of the twin cities. He said that they had decided not to further create trouble for the poor masses and would facilitate them from every aspect. He condemned the Sultan group, who opted to continue the strike, saying that there is no justification to prolong the miseries of the already poverty stricken people. He said his group would continue plying their transport at fprmer fares, saying that there was still margin of profit for the transporters.
Gardezi said that Sultan group is mafia and wants to earn maximum profit at the cost of suffering of the poor masses. "This is the reason", he said, and added that his group had decided that it would even arrange taxis at nominal charges to facilitate the commuters if there was any shortage of transport on the respective routes. He said that there is no justification to further increase the fare as the wagon owners are earning Rs 90,000 to Rs 100,000 profit per month.
Secretary, Islamabad Transport Authority (ITA), Bashir Ahmed, said that the government has decided to arrange alternative transport in case there is any shortage of wagons at the routes. He added that they have talked to Sky Transport group to provide vans to meet the shortage. He further said that the government would definitely take action against those who violated law and would cancel their permits.