Commuters facing problems due to thin transport on roads

Commuters of the twin cities are facing problems as thin public transport has been plying since the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) started sit-ins in the Federal Capital after leading so-called Azadi and Inqilab marches.
Majority of the vehicles remained off the road Sunday as the sit-ins entered 10th day. The transporters kept vehicles stationed at homes or only run them from Saddar or other points to Faizabad to avoid any untoward situation
Jehangir Khan, driver of a public transport vehicle at Faizabad, told APP that he could not take risk to travel to Islamabad as protestors gathered in the Capital might turn violent any time.
Therefore, he carried the commuters from Saddar to Faizabad and was now filling the van to go back to Saddar, he added.
"We are praying that the situation may become normal. We are unable to earn reasonable income as we cannot complete our routes, moreover, the number of passengers have also decreased," he said.
A large number of commuters for Islamabad, who were stranded at the Faizabad stop, expressed their displeasure over protests, demonstrations and processions being held in the Capital city off and on, which had turned their lives miserable. Such activities increased the hardships of common men, who had no alternative to reach their offices and homes, they said.
Majid, employee of a private firm having office in Blue Area, castigated the political parties holding sit-ins, which he said, had disturbed his normal life. He said he had not his own transport and in the absence of public transport, he was unable to attend his office.
Muhammad Farid, a 45-year old commuter, told APP that taxi drivers were taking full advantage of the situation and were charging the passengers more than double fare.
Another Shahbaz Khan, 35, said he lived in Rawalpindi but worked in Islamabad and had to travel between the twin cities twice a day. Prior to the sit-ins, it took him around one hour to have one-side journey. "Now I have to start my journey two hours prior to the scheduled time as I have to change two vans midway at Faizabad," he complained.
Khan said he had to consume over four hours in travelling every day, leaving little time to work.