KARACHI, Sept 3: The Sindh chief of the Awami National Party (ANP) and chairman of the Pukhtoon Action Committee (Loya Jirga), Shahi Syed, deplored the proposed ban on two-stroke rickshaws without making arrangements for any suitable alternative.

He termed the government proposal a blatant violation of human rights.

Mr Shahi was addressing a gathering after the inauguration of a party’s office in East Zone, Korangi. The ANP chief charged that the Pakhtun population in Karachi had been deprived of employment opportunities.

He said that two-stroke rickshaws had been operating for many decades but now the government on the pretext of environmental pollution was considering banning them.

Mr Shahi said that they would cooperate with the government if it came up with alternative employment to facilitate hundreds of thousands of rickshaw drivers.

He also criticised incidents of setting ablaze heavy vehicles in the wake of any disturbance in the city.

The ANP leader urged the relevant authorities to ensure alternative measures before the imposition of any ban on the two-stroke rickshaws. — PPI