KARACHI, Dec 1: The trains’ departure schedule remained disturbed causing hardships to passengers, as the protest being observed by train operators entered 10th day here on Friday.

Demanding increase in their salary and grades according to their length of service, the drivers and firemen have been protesting since Nov 21. They announced that they would follow the procedure set by the department.

According to the work manual, drivers and firemen abandon trains on way when their duty timings are over which disturbs train timings.

Sources said instead of meeting workers’ demand, the railway department started hiring retired drivers and firemen on contract without offering medical and other facilities. It is feared that the hiring of retired drivers to operate trains may lead to any mishap.

Due to the disturbed schedule, passengers had to wait for long at cantonment and city stations. The trains are leaving for their respective destinations behind one to four hours of schedule. Passengers and their relatives, who arrived at stations to see off them, faced problems as there were no proper seating arrangement.

Meanwhile, PRWF held a meeting and demanded removal of encroachment from the land of Scheme 2-A near university railway station along Safari Park and Scheme 15 in Juma Goth where railway workers were given plots.

It said the poor workers and widows had been relying on government to help remove encroachment from their plots. The federation demanded the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to take suo motu notice of the situation.