PTI leader Zaman asks Sindh government to let transporters resume services

KARACHI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Khurram Sher Zaman on Thursday said that his party would continue to raise its voice against “every wrongdoing” of the provincial government, demanding that the province allow the transporters to resume their services. 

A delegation of transporters met Zaman on Thursday to discuss the imposition of a lockdown to contain the spread of a virus epidemic. After meeting them, Zaman told the media that the Sindh government did not take the federal government on board before announcing the lockdown. 

“Now they are facing public criticism. Their every strategy, including ration distribution, has miserably failed. Every citizen of Sindh is disappointed with their attitude,” he said.

Also read: Shahbaz Gill accuses Sindh govt of politicising coronavirus situation through doctors

'Karachi on the verge of destruction'

“Karachi is on the verge of destruction. The bus owners association is ready to follow every SOP and run transport, but the government isn’t allowing them. The attitude of the government is turning cruel day by day,” he said.

He claimed that the Sindh police had been exploiting the situation, taking extortion money and looting trucks by saying that they did not obey the federal directives, but only followed the Sindh government’s orders.

The PTI leader said that the provincial government was spreading not only pessimism but also hatred through their advisers and ministers. “The Sindh government has now started arresting some traders and we condemn that act in strong words," he said.

Also read: PM Imran tasks Sindh governor to convince PTI MNA to withdraw resignation

'PM Imran focusing on daily-wage workers'

Zaman clarified that the Sindh government had not devised and sent any SOP to the federal government. He said that Prime Minister Imran Khan was focusing on the issue of unemployment of the daily-wage workers. 

“We are in talks with the transporters on tax relief and issues on the highway. We will try to resolve these issues with the help of the federal government since these people are a major pillar of our economy,” he said.

Also read: PTI, PPP lock horns over coronavirus response in Sindh

'Sindh police looting trucks'

President All Pakistan Goods Association Alliance, and PTI MPA, Malik Shahzad Awan, on Thursday also announced that the transporters would follow all government SOPs and expressed the intention to bring transport onto the roads again.

“The Sindh police are looting our trucks and dumpers and providing no relief, and on the other hand, the construction sector has been allowed to resume their work,” he said. 

He demanded that the Sindh government let hotels reopen along the highways, or provide rations to drivers and conductors of public transport. Awan also spoke of a meeting with the Sindh transport minister and said nothing had come of it.