RAWALPINDI: The metro bus service to Islamabad on Thursday remained suspended and the buses were operated only on the Saddar-Faizabad track.

The bus service was shut down for Islamabad due to security reasons as rallies were taken out in the twin cities in connection with the black day on Aug 15.

However, officials said the bus service between Rawalpindi and Islamabad would resume on Friday (today).

A shortage of public transport was seen in the city.

People arrived at metro bus stations but the staff refused to issue them tickets for Islamabad.

Mohammad Ali, a passenger, said he had to wait for hours at a bus stop to go to Islamabad as the metro service was suspended.

He said wagon drivers cashed in on the situation and charged passengers Rs30 from Faizabad to Aabpara instead of the Rs15 fare.

Sajid Hussain, another commuter, said the government should not suspend the metro bus service on holidays when the citizens go to picnic spots in Islamabad.

He said there was no other proper transport service in the twin cities.

Till the end of the ongoing vacations on Friday, there would be rush of people towards such places in the capital, he added.

Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2019