KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi chapter organised a sit-in against what they termed an ‘illogical ban’ on Qingqi and six seater CNG rickshaws in Karachi on Tuesday.
To protest against illogical ban on CNG rickshaws, instead of bringing under legal framework was held outside the Quaid’s Mausoleum on Tuesday.
Hundreds of rickshaws drivers and owners along with their CNG rickshaws staged the sit-in to express their anger and discontent.
Besides, rickshaw drivers associations’ leaders, JI office bearers, and representatives of civil society and traders unions were also present on the occasion to express their solidarity with rickshaw drivers and owners.
Earlier, a delegation of rickshaw owners’ association led by JI Karachi Amir met with provincial transport minister Mumtaz Jakharani. On the occasion, Secretary Transport Department Taha Ahmed Farooqi and Commissioner Karachi Shoaib Siddique were also present on the occasion.
3-4million Karachiites use CNG&cingchi 4travlng in extreme shrtge of buses,No cir-railway&mass-transit in metropoltn; Stand with Karachiites
— Naeem ur Rehman (@NaeemRehmanEngr) August 17, 2015
The high level meeting deliberated the issue in detail and agreed to constitute a committee that would review the issue and regularize the CNG rickshaws and bring them within the legal limits. The committee would also resolve the other issues pertaining to transport in Karachi. Later while addressing to the sit-in, JI Karachi chief Engr. Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman has demanded of the IG Sindh and DIG Traffic to release all impounded rickshaws immediately. He said that JI believes in dialogue and legal solution of issues, however, he made it clear that the agitation would continue, if thousands of people were deprived of their livelihood. The JI leader informed the protestors about the decisions taken in the meeting with the minister and officials. He said that their initial demands were discussed at the meeting and some drastic decisions have been taken. He said that further developments would also be surfaced in near future, in this regard. Rehman said that if the demands, which were promised, are not met, sit-ins would be held outside the Sindh Chief Minister House. Engr. Naeem demanded of the government to restore the mass transit system in the megalopolis, so as to resolve the issue of transport in the city once and for all.
Met Minstr Mumtaz Jakhrani, committee frmd 2reglrize mini transport.Khi needs mass-transit,gr buses,Cir-railwy pic.twitter.com/pMiaJnQLkk
— Naeem ur Rehman (@NaeemRehmanEngr) August 19, 2015