MARDAN, May 2: Commuters suffered severe problems on Friday as the public transporters observed a wheel-jam strike for more than six hours to protest against the increase in prices of petroleum products.

The transporters also organised a demonstration where they regretted that despite frequent increase in petrol and diesel prices, the government did not allow a rise in the fares of the public transport.

The transporters plying vehicles on the Malakand, Swat, Dargai, Lund Khwar, Shergarh, Hatyan warned that if the fares were not raised immediately, they would be compelled to keep their vehicles off the road.

Later, a delegation of the transporters called on the district police officer and apprised him of the problems faced by them after the rapid increase in the prices of the petroleum products.

Our Correspondent adds from Swabi: The public transporters observed a token wheel-jam strike on Friday to press for increase in the fares on different routes in the wake of the hike in prices of the petroleum products.

The strike call was given by the district flying coach transporters. The wheel-jam strike continued for two hour.

Later, the officials of the local administration told them that an official fare list would be issued to them by the district government soon.

Meanwhile, the commuters told this correspondent that the flying coach owners had already increased the fare twice and another increase was totally unjust.