FAISALABAD, Oct 25: The district council’s session witnessed a tumult on Saturday when many of its members blamed the Nazim for failing to check overcharging by toll collectors on various roads.

The councillors raised the point immediately after the start of the session, alleging that “the contractors have deployed armed men at toll collection posts to charge the motorists of their own free will.”

Iqbal Husain Qureshi informed the house that toll was being charged near Chakera village on the Narwala Road. He complained that he was charged Rs5, though he introduced himself.

He said the district administration had not awarded contract here, and money was being extorted by the people enjoying support from the ruling group.

Another member, Naeem Dastagir, said toll was being illegally collected at three different places from the Faisalabad city to airport.

Rana Muhammad Amin inquired whether the toll had been imposed on the Jaranwala-Khurrianwala Road and the by-pass connecting the roads leading to the city.

Malik Ashfaq Awan, Azhar Baloch, Rana Abdul Rasool and other members also criticized charging of toll at unauthorized places, and demanded that cases should be registered against those involved in the business.

They accused District Nazim Zahid Nazir and other officials of the local government of providing shelter to the so-called contractors extorting money from the motorists.

Acting convener B K Tabish assured the members that decision would be taken at the next meeting after gleaning information and knowing exact position of the collection of toll in the district.

In response to a question posed by Advocate Jameel Ahmad, he directed the relevant officer to present details of the development projects.