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SIALKOT, April 9: Traffic police and district administrations in six districts impounded on Monday hundreds of public vehicles to transport Pakistan Muslim League workers to President General Pervez Musharraf’s public meeting in Sialkot on Wednesday (tomorrow).
Hundreds of the people, including women and children, remained stranded at wagon and bus stands in Sialkot, Daska, Bhopalwala, Begowala, Sambrial, Uggoki-Bajwat, Pasrur, Satrah, Wadala Sindhuan, Badiana, Chawinda, Shakargarh, Zafarwal, Noorkot, Baddo Malhi and Narowal.
They criticised the government for impounding vehicles. Taking advantage of the situation, rickshaw drivers overcharged the commuters and many had to travel in trucks and tractor trolleys.
People expressed grave concern over the situation. Several transporters parked their vehicles in garages to avert the forced seizure of transports.
The district administrations of Gujranwala, Gujrat, Mandi Bahauddin and Hafizabad also impounded vehicles for the president’s meeting.
ENGAGEMENTS: President Musharraf during his visit to the district will have a busy day. District Nazim Muhammad Akmal Cheema told reporters on Monday the president would lay down the foundation stones of Sialkot-Lahore Motorway, Sialkot-Sweden International Engineering University, Sialkot International Airport and Sialkot-Eimanabad-Lahore Road.
President Musharraf would also address a public meeting at Garrison Park where he is likely to announce a big development package for Sialkot. Federal,
provincial and district governments have finalised all the necessary arrangements. The president will also visit Narowal, where he will inaugurate prominent singer Ibrarul Haq’s Sughra Shafi Memorial Trust Hospital.
ALL FOR ARRANGEMENTS: All senior government officials remained busy making necessary arrangements for the president’s visit to Sialkot.
National Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Ameer Hussain, Minister for
Privatisation and Investment Zahid Hamid, Punjab Minister for Industries
Muhammad Ajmal Cheema, District Nazim Muhammad Akmal Cheema,
District Coordination Officer Maj (Retd) Rizwanullah Baig and other senior army officials visited the Garrison Park Ground and reviewed arrangements. No official work was done in all public offices due to absence of officials in their offices.
