Transporters say commercial vehicles have been in police custody for two weeks and deny claims that they were hired for the planned PTI march.
WEB DESK: The All Pakistan Goods Transport Owners Association has claimed that more than 1,000 commercial vehicles belonging to goods transporters have been in police custody in Islamabad for the past two weeks amid preparations for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) march.
Association president Owais Chaudhry Advocate said the vehicles had not been hired for the protest, rejecting the impression that transporters were being paid to provide vehicles for the planned political activity.
According to Chaudhry, the vehicles include containerised cargo trucks, flatbeds, open-body vehicles, 10-wheelers and Mazda trucks. He said most of the vehicles were loaded and had been parked at different intersections in Islamabad.
Transporters reject Rs20,000 daily payment claim
Chaudhry said the claim that the vehicles had been hired and that owners were being paid Rs20,000 per day was incorrect.
He further claimed that no compensation had so far been paid to any transporter. He referred to a similar situation in 2022, saying transporters whose vehicles were detained at that time also did not receive compensation.
The association has demanded the immediate release of loaded vehicles and called for compensation of Rs20,000 per day for each day the vehicles remain detained.
Demand for facilities for drivers
The goods transporters’ association also called for protection and basic facilities for drivers associated with the detained vehicles, including food, drinking water and access to washrooms.
Chaudhry described the use of commercial vehicles in measures aimed at preventing protests and sit-ins as unfair and urged the government to release the vehicles and provide relief to transporters.
Islamabad security preparations continue
The claims come as authorities have stepped up security preparations in Islamabad ahead of the planned PTI march.
Express News has separately reported preparations involving additional security personnel and containers in Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Attock.
The government has also issued warnings regarding the planned march. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said Islamabad would be dealt with strictly in accordance with an Islamabad High Court order, while the government has maintained that the planned protest should not disrupt the capital.
The Islamabad High Court had earlier stated that political parties or public officeholders cannot block Islamabad’s roads, highways or entry and exit routes, according to an Express News report on the court’s decision.
The transporters’ allegations regarding the number of detained vehicles, their status and compensation remain claims by the association and would require confirmation from Islamabad police or relevant government authorities.
