March 22, 2006	Wednesday	Safar 21, 1427

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

MIANWALI, March 21: Punjab police and the district administration almost paralysed the public transport system in the province in their desperate bid to arrange buses and wagons to carry PML workers to the ruling party’s centenary convention to be held on March 23 in Lahore.

Though it was a relatively new experience for the elected district government officials, yet their enthusiasm to show their ‘commitment’ to the ruling PML’s centenary celebrations was no less than that of the hardcore police.

Traffic police in Mianwali district remained busy impounding buses for transportation of the ruling PML workers to the party convention to be held on March 23 in Lahore.

Till Wednesday afternoon, the police had reportedly impounded 20 wagons and buses, still 30 vehicles short of the target given by the their bosses.

District Naib Nazim Malik Tariq Kund was witnessed supervising the impounding campaign being conducted through traffic police at the main Zila Kutchehry Chowk.

The impounded buses are being parked at the District Sports Stadium, and their registration books are with the police.

Meanwhile, the general bus stand gave a deserted look as most of the transporters avoided to bring their vehicles on roads for fear of impounding.

However, a few overloaded buses and wagons, mostly belonging to the pro-PML transporters, were seen freely plying on the roads The conductors of these ‘patronised’ buses were charging more-than-usual fare without any fear.

A large number of commuters, including women and children were seen standing along the road, waiting for transport to reach their respective destinations. One of the passengers, Gul Sher Khan, who wanted to visit Bunnu to see his ailing mother, said he had been waiting for transport for the last two hours.

A ruling party worker, Munshi Ramzan, also condemned the impounding campaign, saying it was not fair to hold the convention at the public’s cost.

A transporter, Bilal Khan, said he had parked his buses at his outhouse for fear of impounding. “Who will pay the fuel expenses for such a long journey (Mianwali-Lahore),” he asked and added that he could not rely on the district administration’s promise to provide fuel, in the light of his past experience.

SIALKOT: The traffic police on Tuesday impounded the vans and buses used to transport girls to schools and colleges, which caused problems for the students. Due to the situation, the attendance remained very thin at the female educational institutions in both Sialkot and Narowal districts.

The traffic police also impounded the factories’ buses, coaches and other vehicles to carry the PML workers to Lahore. Due to the non-availability of transport, thousands of factory workers could not reach their work places.

Expressing concern over the situation, chamber of commerce and industry vice-president Ejaz Ahmad Soni said the impounding of factory vehicles had kept a large number of workers away from their duty, which caused a financial loss of millions of rupees to the business community for the second consecutive day.

He said the impounding also badly hampered the export and import activities, demanding immediate release of the impounded factory vehicles.

Meanwhile, a large number of people, including women, children and patients in the district remained stranded at bus stands and along the roads due to non-availability of public transport.

The affected people strongly criticised the district government for impounding public transport vehicles, besides chanting anti-government slogans.

Taking advantage of this situation, the drivers of rickshaws tractor-trolleys and trucks, started transporting passengers and charged inflated fares.

Meanwhile, the Sialkot district government announced that a convoy of 200 buses, carrying the PML workers, would go to Lahore on March 23.

District Nazim Akmal Cheema said that 200 buses had been handed over to the district’s all urban and rural union councils, so that a maximum number of party workers could be transported to Lahore.

Narowal District Nazim Dr Naimat Ali Javaid said a convoy of 100 buses would be sent to Lahore from the district.

GUJRANWALA: The traffic police and other government departments impounded a large number of buses and wagons in the district, forcing the commuters to vacate the vehicles on the roads for the second consecutive day on Tuesday.

Reports said each police station in the district had been directed to impound at least 14 wagons and 11 buses, while traffic police had also been ordered to seize maximum vehicles for carrying PML workers to the party convention in Lahore.

The traffic and district police set up joint pickets on all major roads, besides the GT Road, and took the seized vehicles to the district police line and police stations. The commuters were left helpless on roads who in some cases cursed the rulers for causing trouble to them.

Many transporters kept their vehicles off the road due to fear of impounding, while police conducted raids at bus stands to seize the ‘hidden’ vehicles.

Meanwhile, a caravan of 10 buses and eight wagons, carrying PML’s women workers, will leave for Lahore from the district, which will be led by provincial parliamentary secretary Ms Zille Huma Usman. This was stated in a party press release issued here on Tuesday.

SHEIKHUPURA: Police and the district administration continued to impound public transport vehicles here on Tuesday.

A major impounding operation was conducted on the GT Road where police personnel got vacated many buses and wagons by force.

An old man, who boarded a Lahore-bound bus from Rawalpindi, complained that the police forced all the passengers to immediately vacate the vehicle when it reached Sheikhupura.

“They (police) were so desperate to get the bus vacated that they threw our luggage outside the bus. When we tried to argue with them, we were told that they were just obeying their bosses’ orders,” the old man said and wondered that what massage the rulers were trying to convey to the masses by causing so much trouble for them.

The worst affected were those who were travelling along with their families and carrying heavy luggage, he said.

TOBA TEK SINGH: Most of the transporters took their buses and wagons to the nearby villages to save them from being impounded by the administration.

A number of vehicles have already been parked in various police stations of the districts by the police.

The bus and wagon stands looked deserted and the commuters had to face hardships while travelling to other towns and villages.

The impounded buses will be given to PML office-bearers to carry people to the party convention.

MANDI BAHAUDDIN: Passengers had to face immense problems in the district as most of the public transport vehicles either went underground for fear of being impounded or were seized by police.

There was no transport available for government servants, students and the patients who had to essentially go to their respective destinations.

BAHAWALPUR: A large number of public transport vehicles were impounded here to carry PML workers to Lahore to participate in the party convention.

Due to the police action, scores of buses and wagons disappeared from roads, creating transport shortage for the commuters, especially those desirous of travelling to other cities.

Meanwhile, the PML’s bus caravan will leave for Lahore on Wednesday afternoon.