HYDERABAD, May 22: The Coaster Owners Association has threatened to suspend the public transport on Hyderabad-Mirpurkhas road from May 24 if a coaster stand in Tando Allahyar was not retrieved from, what they called ‘the control of timekeepers’.

Addressing a news conference here on Thursday, association general secretary Shabbir Ahmed Khanzada, Minibus Owners Association president Mohammad Yasin, Bus Owners Alliance (Mirpurkhas) general secretary Mohammad Anwar said that the transporters had been seriously affected due to the increase in the prices of diesel, petrol and other items while the situation had been further aggravated due to these ‘armed timekeepers’.

They claimed that these people had taken over the management of the bus stand in Tando Allahyar and charging Rs100 from each vehicle at gunpoint. They claimed that their own timekeepers, starters and even some bus owners were harassed and subjected to violence by them.

They claimed that aerial firing by this group in Tando Allahyar had become the order of the day.

They said that the government functionaries and the district government appeared to be totally helpless before these people.

They feared that if the authorities failed to take notice of the matter, it could create a law and order situation in the area.

They said if the bus stand was not retrieved from these people’ control all transporters would stop plying their transport on Hyderabad-Mirpurkhas road from May 24. They said that more than 100 buses/coasters were plying on Hyderabad-Mirpurkhas route.