Karachi:
To deprive people of livelihood will push them into crime, said all Pakistan Qingqi Rickshaw Welfare Association President Haji Iftikhar.
Prohibition of several seats rickshaws on 20 roads in the city is equivalent to pushing thousands of people into hunger, said Iftikhar, who addresses a press conference flanked by the Secretary General of Association Haji Aamir at Karachi Press Club on Monday.
The president and Secretary General of the Association demanded that the announcement banned Qingqi Rickshaws on 20 roads in Karachi to be withdrawn. Otherwise, they said that sit-in protests will be held all over the city.
They said that the traffic police issue fines, even on roads where the ban does not apply. They also mentioned that the message issued by Commissioner Karachi, who introduced the ban has been contested in court.
The city administration pushes the hard-working Qingqi Rickshaw drivers and owners for agitation, they said, and asked it will take a sit-in and roadblock across the city to get the government to hear our views against banning Qingqi Rickshaws.
Iftikhar and Aamir said the commissioner Karachi has introduced a ban on Qingqi Rickshaws on 20 roads in the city. The ban has further increased the difficulties of Qingqi Rickshaw drivers in the midst of rising inflation.
They said that protests have also been held, but no one was aware of their complaints or contacted them. They also mentioned that they had written several letters to commissioners and relevant departments on the question, but received no answer.
They said the situation has become so severe that Qingqi Rickshaw drivers are now facing hunger at home. The drivers are exposed to the abuse of the traffic police and issue fines themselves on roads where the ban is not in force, causing severe distress among the drivers. The association has challenged the commissioner Karachi’s notification, and the hearing is still pending.
