HYDERABAD, Oct 10: The Sindh Bus Owners Association has threatened wheel jam strike if the government failed to take back fixed rate of fares for air conditioned and non-air conditioned coaches and buses plying on inter-city routes before Oct 12.

The threat of strike for Friday on the eve of Eidul-Fitr poses a challenge to the administration’s ability to maintain law and order in case the orders are not withdrawn putting in serious trouble the tens of thousands of people, who have prepared themselves to celebrate Eid holidays with their families in their ancestral towns and villages.

The office-bearers of the Sindh Bus Owners Association termed the fixation of fares by government as illogical keeping in view the steep rise in the prices of all commodities besides diesel. The government should raise the rate of fares instead of making cuts, he said.The government had fixed 92 paisa per kilometre for AC coaches and buses and 46 paisa for non-AC coaches and buses in a meeting presided over by Sindh Transport Minister in November 2005 after reaching a mutual understanding with all the transport associations, said the Provincial Transport Authority (PTA) Secretary Khalid Khan.

The PTA had notified the same fares agreed upon three years ago, but the Sindh Local Government Ordinance after devolution of powers had stripped the PTA officers of magisterial powers to implement the decision in letter and spirit.

In case transporters refused to implement the decision the PTA as well as the Regional Transport Authorities would seek help from district governments and police, he said.

To a question about the consequences of a possible strike by transporters the secretary said that the Sindh transport minister was personally monitoring the situation.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Operation Hyderabad Commander Shaukat Shah said that police force would take action only after the officers of Regional Transport Authorities or passengers sought their help with regard to overcharging of fares.

The law and order would be maintained at any cost and additional force would be deployed at the bus stands to avert any untoward situation, he said.

District Coordination Officer Aftab Ahmed Khatri said that the district government would provide support to judicial magistrates and the police whenever the Regional Transport Authority requested for it.The Sindh government on Oct 8 fixed fares for AC and non-AC coaches and buses and advised passengers not to pay more than the fixed rate. In case of violation of fixed fares, they should lodge complaints with the traffic police, DCO and highway police or the nearest police post with the number of vehicle and name of transport company.

Sindh transport minister took serious notice of overcharging of fares and asked the district officials who had magisterial powers to conduct surprise raids with traffic police and take action against people who were found involved in overcharging of fares.—APP