Transporters threaten strike wheel-jam: Motor Vehicle Ordinance opposed

Transporters of Rawalpindi have rejected the Motor Vehicle Ordinance 2007 and threatened to hold complete wheel-jam if it was not withdrawn. "If government failed to withdraw the ordinance we will hold protests, demonstrations, sit-ins and observe complete wheel jam in the province", said leaders of Muttahida Transport Committee (MTC), after a meeting held here on Tuesday.
MTC President Sultan Mehmood, Suzuki Union Chairman Raja Riaz, Tajamul Shah, President Taxi Federation Muhammad Tariq and other leaders attended the meeting.
Transporters set July 1 deadline for withdrawal of the ordinance and asked the provincial government to fulfil their demand by withdrawing this black law. This ordinance would not help in increasing revenue rather increase personal assets of the corrupt police officials, they alleged.
They said that 500 to 700 percent increase in the fine for traffic violations had no precedent in the history of entire world and it would cause a lot of problems for the transport system.
The government had amended the challan law of 1965 and with one stroke of pen 500 to 700 percent increase has been made. It means there was no law in the country and any single person when needed could change the law, they added.
They said that transporters had always extended their cooperation with the government. Whenever the president or chief minister led rally they provided transport facilities. But in return they were being punished, they said. They hoped that the Punjab government would consider appeal of the transporters and withdraw the ordinance.