HYDERABAD, Nov 26: Mr Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany of the Sindh High Court, Hyderabad circuit, on Monday asked the traffic police officials to produce the route permits of those buses which were allowed to move in the city on the next date of hearing.

The court passed the order on a constitutional petition filed by a transporter, M. Yaseen, through Advocate Umer Deen Qureshi.

The sergeant, Traffic, SHOs of Fort, Makki Shah, Cantonment, Market, S.P. Traffic, and the SSP, Hyderabad, were shown as respondents.

The petitioner claimed that he was plying buses between Karachi and Hyderabad since 1975 via Sabzi Mandi, Qazi Qayyum, and Jail roads under the valid route permit, issued by the secretary, Regional Transport Authority (RTA), and according to the time schedule.

He said that the RTA, Hyderabad, in consultation with all bus operators issued a time schedule in 1984 which was still operative and accordingly the buses of the petitioner were complying with it. He said that the Traffic Sergeant addressed a letter to the DIG, Police (Traffic and Highways), Karachi and Hyderabad, SSP Hyderabad, RTA Hyderabad and SP Kotri requesting them to look into the matter and take the necessary action in accordance with the law for legitimate travelling facilities of the public of Kotri.

He said that in the light of this letter the RTA Hyderabad allowed the petitioner to ply the buses from Hyderabad to Karachi and vice versa via the above route and according to the time schedule given by the RTA, and added that subsequently the RTA Hyderabad with the collaboration of some rival transporters stopped the petitioner’s vehicles on the said route.

He pointed out that respondent police officials stopped the buses of the petitioner and those working with him prompting members of the Committee National and the Super Highway Deluxe Bus Owners Association (registered) Karachi to move the Sindh Minister for transport.

He said that the committee members complained against the illegal operation of the SRTC buses and harassment on the part of the respondents. He added that this application was forwarded by the Provincial Transport Authority to the Regional Transport Authority and others concerned with endorsement to take necessary action in accordance with the law.

He added that after receipt of this letter the RTA Hyderabad allowed the petitioner to ply the buses according to the time schedule. But, he maintained that the respondent police officials were harassing the petitioner and others by restraining them to ply their buses via Sabzi Mandi, Qazi Qayyum, and Jail roads.

He said that the secretary, RTA, Hyderabad, did not respond to his complaint when he visited him.

He accused police officials of supporting his rival transporters and depriving him and other bus owners of their lawful source of livelihood. He said that the action of the respondents was unlawful.

He prayed the court to restrain the respondent police officials from harassing the petitioner and other bus owners.