Combined opposition in the Senate on Tuesday condemned the monopoly of a private bus company at the cost of depriving thousands of other transporters of their livelihood.
Opposition senators had raised the issue twice earlier during the 11th session. However, this could not help end suffering of the poor commuters, particularly women and children. Likewise, transporters' protests also could not help rectify the situation.
The government faced the embarrassment as bulk of questions during the question hour were either deferred or opposition expressed its dissatisfaction over answers.
State Minister for Production Habibullah Warriach faced torrid time at the hands of opposition senators who shouted he should first introduce himself. He spoke in the Senate for the first time.
Senator after senator from all opposition parties amid shouts of shame, shame flayed the decision of franchising the lucrative Islamabad-Rawalpindi routes to benefit a private bus company with military background.
The lawmakers demanded of the government to restore 1330 route permits of mini-buses, wagons and Suzuki vans and withdraw cases against PPPP MNA Zamarud Khan and eight other transporters.
PPPP Senator Raza Rabbani, on a point of order, drew attention of the House towards plight of the transporters rendered unemployed, after a private company's monopoly was established by franchising the important routs.
Throwing light on the background, he said that Askari Bank provided lease for the buses of a daughter of a retired general and in order to facilitate her, rest of the transporters were barred from running their vehicles on specific routs.
"When joining the people of his constituency, an MNA supported them and in order to mitigate their sufferings, he was booked under a terrorist case in anti-terrorist court along with others," he lamented.
The elected representatives and transporters, he continued, were baton-charged and cautioned of dire consequences if they did not halt protest against franchising of the routes.
When the MNA, Rabbani said, was given bail, he was booked in another similar case for allegedly torching two buses of the company. He claimed the buses were set ablaze by the company itself.
"These monopolistic trends and political victimisation can never cow down the opposition from its struggle for the restoration of democracy and the rule of law," he declared.
He described the measures adopted by the administration and the company against those who raised voice for their legitimate rights as state terrorism.
Another PPPP Senator, Dr Safdar Abbasi, made mention of Asif Ali Zardari who was in jail for the last eight years without conviction.
"This is a worst example of political victimisation. He was given bail in 12 cases and stopped seeking bail after 13th case was filed against him," he said.
He alleged the rulers were bent upon destroying the judicial system and cautioned that if the government did not stop abusing the judiciary, within months, the entire structure would collapse.
The senator drew a similarity between Javed Hashmi and Zamurad, saying, both supported the cause of masses and were being targeted for this 'sin'. However, such shabby tactics would not impede opposition's struggle.
Sardar Mehtab, Professor Khurshid Ahmed, Professor Ghafoor Ahmed and Asfandyar Wali unanimously demanded restoration of route permits to private transporters and withdrawal of cases against the lawmaker and others.