PESHAWAR, June 21: Awami National Party has expressed concern over harassment of transporters by the Sindh government and has extended its support for the strike called by transporters on June 30.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Afrasiab Khattak general secretary of the party, appealed to the democratic forces in the country to support the strike to press the government against using such tactics. He said that the government had planned the demolition of housing colonies in Karachi that was followed by placing unjustified bans on the vehicles run by them and other poor people.

Such tactics against Pakhtuns, who were extremely hard worker, would not be tolerated at any cost, he added. He said that the Karachi-based transporters would get party’s fullest support in these trying times.

Meanwhile, ANP central leader and former federal minister, Mohammad Afzal Khan, said that harassment of Pakhtuns in Karachi was aimed to deprive them of their source of earning. He said that putting ban on rickshaws in Karachi would deprive thousands of families from their livelihoods.

He said that like Punjab, the government of Sindh should give alternate way of earnings, but depriving them of their livelihoods amount to the economic murder.

Mr Khan demanded provision of new rickshaws to the people there on easy installments, saying it was the responsibility of the government to take care of its citizens by giving them jobs, foods and shelter.