July 05, 2008	Saturday	Rajab 1, 1429

GUJRANWALA, July 4: Public transport vehicle owners took out a seven-kilometre -long demonstration from Rahwali to Gujranwala on Friday to protest against Regional Transport Authority (RTA) secretary’s alleged misbehaviour with their drivers on one pretext or the other.

They also protested their drivers’ humiliation at the hands of franchised bus owners and later filed a grievance petition before the district coordination officer (DCO).

The protesters were carrying banners and placards and they chanted slogans against the RTA secretary and franchised bus administrations.

A PML-Q former minister had launched franchised bus service on local route after disallowing at least 1,200 vans from plying from Kamoki to Wazirabad via Eimenabad, Gujranwala, Rahwali and Ghakkher and this had indeed established the monopoly of these buses on this route.

Transport Society Gujranwala (TSG) President Abdul Hameed said that traffic wardens and the RTA secretary were humiliating van drivers to prevent them from plying their vehicles on G.T. Road and to help franchised bus owners hold and exploit their monopoly.

He alleged that the RTA secretary and his staffers keep wagons impounded for two to three days and release these vehicles only after imposing up to Rs500 fine.

He also alleged that the fine collected by the RTA officials was not being deposited in the government treasury and was indeed being misappropriated by them.

He said though the PML-Q government had gone, the local administration, including RTA secretary and traffic police, were still patronising their tycoons.

Later, a delegation of van owners met DCO Dr Pervaiz Ahmad Rathore who assured them that their grievances would be addressed sympathetically.