The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday directed Secretary Transport Sindh to hold a meeting with Qingqi rickshaws association and other relevant departments to make a comprehensive plan for alternate transport arrangement for the citizens. A division bench of the apex court was hearing a petition against SHC order banning the three-wheeler motorcycle rickshaws better known as Qingqi rickshaws.
The Apex court sought a comprehensive project report from Sindh transport secretary regarding alternate transport arrangements. The bench comprising Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Maqbool Baqir questioned the representative of transport department as to what progress has been done regarding alternate transport to replace Qingqi rickshaws.
A representative of the transport department informed the court that Mass Transit project was ready for execution but the project land had been encroached and action was being taken to vacate the land. The court remarked that if the Japanese government was funding the project, they surely cannot send their army to remove the encroachments, rather it was your responsibility.
Secretary Transport Taha Farooqi and DIG of traffic police also appeared before the court. The court questioned Farooqi about the court earlier direction for holding a meeting with qingqi association and other relevant departments to make a comprehensive plan for alternate transport. Farooqi requested the court to give him more time for this purpose. The court directed him to file a written statement in this regard. The hearing of the case was adjourned for two weeks.