Transport impounded

Published August 24, 2005

LAHORE, Aug 23: Police and district governments on Tuesday impounded hundreds of public transport vehicles in the city and elsewhere in the province to facilitate election staff movement.

Public problems compounded as the remaining vehicles were driven off the roads by transporters.

The impounding began on Monday night, as officials of the district governments together with traffic police were found intercepting vehicles and driving them to parking areas under their control.

One of the district government officials in Lahore said on condition of anonymity that all the owners of the impounded vehicles would be paid accordingly.

However, transporter Abdul Jabbar said he knew well how the government always dealt with the vehicle owners after their assignments were over.

“We are never paid. Our vehicles are usually damaged on such occasions,” he said.

Reports reaching here from other cities also say that most of the public transport has been impounded without paying any money in advance.