Talks between transporters, police break down as Karachi strike enters third day

A strike by public transport operators in Karachi will continue after talks with police broke down, the head of a transporters’ union said on Saturday.

The wheel-jam strike has been observed in the metropolis since Thursday against electronic traffic challans, “heavy fines and other regulatory measures”.

Haji Tawab Khan, president of the Karachi Transport Ittehad (KTI), told Dawn on Saturday that the strike would continue.

“We held a meeting with the DIG Traffic, who said reversing the e-challans was not under his authority,” he said.

“He, however, assured us that he would review the challans which transporters said were unjustified.”

Tawab added that none of the transporters’ demands had been met and that, despite repeated requests to government officials, no meeting had been called.

Earlier, Muhammad Ilyas, vice president of KTI, said that no breakthrough had been achieved on the transporters’ four key demands.

“We have objected to heavy fines imposed under the e-challan system,” said Ilyas. “We believe that penalties generated through high-resolution cameras installed at traffic signals and body-worn cameras used by traffic police personnel have become increasingly difficult for operators to absorb.”

Ilyas added that other concerns include the biometric verification process required for the transfer of vehicle ownership, which transporters say is cumbersome and time-consuming.

“We have also demanded a review of the mandatory third-party insurance requirement, under which vehicle owners are required to pay around Rs12,000,” he added.

Meanwhile, Sindh Local Government Minister Nasir Shah told the media a day earlier that Transport Minister Sharjeel Memon took notice of the strike. He said that the issue would be resolved soon.

The demonstration has disrupted commutes as buses, minibuses and coaches largely stayed off the roads, forcing thousands of commuters to seek alternative means of transport to reach workplaces, educational institutions and commercial centres.