March 22, 2006	Wednesday	Safar 21, 1427

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LAHORE, March 21: Miseries of those using public transport multiplied as traffic police and other government agencies impounded hundreds of wagons and buses in the city on Tuesday. Though the provincial law minister had told the provincial assembly on Monday that “PML would not use official resources for the convention” the situation on the ground was otherwise.

Impounding of a large number of vehicles not only created problems for the general public but also for transporters, drivers and conductors who sustained financial losses.

A transporter whose vehicles were also impounded on Tuesday morning told Dawn that some 500 vehicles, mostly wagons, had been impounded in the city so far.

Apart from the Qadhafi Stadium, the impounded vehicles were parked at Yadgar Chowk and Cantonment area.

“Only the franchised buses of those companies are allowed to ply whose owners were well connected,” said a transporter requesting anonymity.

Scores of commuters were seen at bus stops throughout the day waiting for public transport. Life was not easy even for those who were able to board a thin number of buses plying the city as they were packed beyond their capacity.

“Travelling in overcrowded buses is not less than a torture,” Mohammad Illyas, an employee of a financial institution, said on a Jail Road bus stop.

All Pakistan Motor Transport Federation vice-president Naseer Butt told this reporter that the government had impounded non-AC buses and wagons across the province. He said except the DCOs of Sahiwal and Pakpatan none other in the Punjab had promised compensation (for transporters). “Had the government taken us into confidence, the transport problem would not have been so serious,” he opined.

Shabbir, a driver, said that the police impounded his wagon on the Walton Road and warned him of serious consequences if he tried fled the Qadhafi Stadium parking.

The police had set up pickets at both entry points there to foil any escape attempt by the drivers of the impounded vehicles.

Shabbir said he had no money to buy meals and fuel and his request to give him some money for the purpose had been turned down by the police.

The drivers of the impounded vehicles will have to spend two nights and as many days in their wagons and buses and spend money from their pockets on their meals and fuel.