Ijaz Butt
Violation of the government ban on the operation of intercity transport has been going on without let and hindrance, mocking the officers including the Regional Transport Authority secretary, supposed to check such grave violations.
According to a survey conducted by this report, violation of Covid-19 SOPs and ban on intercity transport has been continued at the transport stand owned and run by PTI MPA and Minister’s nephew while the district administration has failed to take any action.
The Punjab government has banned the Inter-city transport in view of the rapid increase in COvid-19 cases along with other tougher restrictions to curb the spread of the virus.
However, violation of this ban has been going on by Taimoor Travels, owned and being run by the nephew of PTI Punjab Minister Chaudhry Zaheeruddin, in the heart of Faisalabad City.
During the survey this reporter learnt that operation of the intercity transport has been continued at the Taimoor Travels ever since the ban came into force and the service has not been closed for a single day.
A local transporter, requesting not be named, regretted that the government ban on intercity transport is being flouted under the shining sky and all the officers of both the district government and RTA have turned a blind to it.
“Either it is because uncle of the owner of the Taimoor travel is a minister or something else but it is painful that the government has closed down all other transport companies and has let this one operate”, he pointed out and asked the government officers to explain “this nepotism.”
Another transporter also expressed a similar view and regretted at this overt violation of the government ban, saying it is tantamount to challenging writ of the government.
Meanwhile, Secretary RTA Faisalabad Chaudhry Sarwar Gujjar when contacted by Divisional Correspondent of Pakistan Observer said: “We close the travel company and its stand on a daily basis without being able to prove the paperwork.”
In this regard, when the district administration was contacted, Assistant Commissioner (City) Syed Ayub Bukhari said that they are unable to stop any such violation as they can only report the matter to the Secretary RTA. “Only the RTA is authorised to take action in case of such violations.”
People said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) minister’s nephew bus stand in Ashirabad is a question mark on the government’s performance at a time pandemic when people from a labourer to industrialist is sacrificing their bread and butter to protect lives of the people.
