Transporters block road to protest parking fee

LAKKI MAR1WAT: The transporters on Saturday blocked the busy Bannu-Mianwali road in Lakki city on Saturday to protest against what they said exorbitant parking fee by contractor of Town Municipal Committee (TMA).

The transporters parked the vehicles in the middle of road and closed it for vehicular traffic.   They said that the clerks of TMA Lakki contractor were receiving high fee in violation of the schedule issued by tehsil municipal administration, asking the relevant authorities to take notice of it.

They said that the parking stand lacked facilities as a result of which the drivers were faced with numerous problems. The closure of road caused troubles for commuters especially government employees who could reach offices located at the district headquarters complex Tajazai in time.

The bus stand is surrounded by shops, markets and business places. The road blockade prompted local police authorities to send cops to the main bus stand to clear the situation.

“The firing panicked the traders and commuters,” an eyewitness maintained, saying that a local resident Falak Naz fainted and was taken to hospital.

After clearing the road, the policemen arrested a local leader of transport union and shifted him to the police station. The arrested transport union leader was later released after successful talks between police officials and local office- bearers of the union.