QUETTA, May 20: The Balochistan transporters called off their three-day strike, following successful negotiation with Corps Commander Lt-Gen Abdul Qadir here on Monday evening.
According to the information secretary of the Mushtraka Balochistan Bus Federation Transport, Mehmood Khan Bandi, the corps commander has assured a delegation of the striking transporters, headed by Haji Jumma Khan and Hakmat Lahri, that their problems would be resolved in a few days.
The delegation apprised Lt-Gen Qadir of the problems being faced by the transporters on the national highways, linking Quetta and other parts of the province with rest of the country.
They said that increasing incidents of robberies had affected the transport business very badly, as passenger were reluctant to travel by road from Quetta to other parts of the country and many passenger coaches and other vehicles had been looted on the highways.
The transporters’ other problems include unnecessary checkposts of various law enforcement agencies, harassment of transporters and passengers at the checkposts and increasing prices of petrol and diesel.
The corps commander assured the transporters that their problems would be resolved soon and travelling on the national highways would be made safe for the passengers and the transporters by taking proper steps immediately. The transporters called off their strike immediately.
In the morning, buses and coaches also joined the transporters’ strike, causing great difficulties for the people.