Motorcycle-rickshaw union continues with protest

BAHAWALPUR: The motorcycle-rickshaw union continued with their protest for the second day on Thursday against traffic police crackdown.

According to President Qaim Din, traffic police during a crackdown impounded hundreds of three-wheelers, issuing orders to prepare [valid] documents and driving licences from the regional district authority. On Thursday, the rickshaw drivers gathered at Farid Gate and protested against traffic police.

DSP traffic Nadeem Butt told Dawn that a campaign against motorcycle rickshaws had been launched on the directive of Bahawalpur Bench of the Lahore High Court.

According to him, local lawyer Malik Muhammad Sadiq had filed a petition submitting that the [motorcycle] rickshaws were being plied on roads without valid documents and driving licences in contravention of the orders of the Supreme Court.

He said the rickshaws had been seized with a direction to drivers to secure [necessary] documents from the regional district transport authority.

The DSP said police would also check under-age drivers [of rickshaws] and he would furnish reply to the LHC bench on next hearing (May 18).

Meanwhile, All Pakistan Clerks Association members [in different government offices] on Thursday took out a rally and demonstrated at Farid Gate to press the government for the acceptance of their demands.

The clerks were demanding revision of pay scales and selection grade in the coming provincial budget.

Source: Dawn