Auto-rickshaws owners and drivers demanded of the provincial Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control department to stop registration of new auto-rickshaws and qingqi, which were causing traffic mess in the provincial capital, what they termed the policy was also against verdict of the superior court. Talking to media persons here at Peshawar Press Club, the Auto-rickshaw Drivers' Union Peshawar president Baz Muhammad Khan said that certain corrupt officials of the provincial Excise Department for personal benefits bestowing registrations to new unregistered auto and qingqi rickshaws dealers.
He said that the provincial capital city Peshawar have already registered around 40,000 auto-rickshaws, most of whom were facing immense difficulties and bent on self immolation due to low earning in the existing price-rocketing. Flanked by office bearers of the union Izat Khan, Amanullah and Badrizaman, said that that certain rickshaws dealers bring receipt from Punjab and registering here in connivance of the officials of Excise department. He said that in 2016 the court had given a verdict of banning the registration of new auto-rickshaws for ten years- till 2026, but the department concerned in violation of the court order bestowing registration on blue-eyed ones.
The union president warned if the registration of new auto and qingqi rickshaws remained continues, then very soon all the roads of the city will be blocked due to rush, and the entire traffic system will turned paralyzed. He also lamented that they had met the SSP traffic and discussed the issue but the official concerned replied that it was work of the Excise department.
The office bearers of the union asked the government and Excise department to resolve the issue immediately, otherwise, threatened to block all main routes for vehicular traffic till the acceptance of their demands.