14 held as train drivers observe countrywide strike

LAHORE: Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique on Sunday said trains operation had resumed across the country as the drivers’ strike and the effort to paralyse the system had been foiled.

The development came after the Train Drivers Welfare Association (TDWA) announced a countrywide strike which resulted in suspension of operations in many parts of the country. More than 275 drivers had submitted leave applications, which were rejected by the authorities. The drivers had announced that the strike would continue until their demands were met. The demands included increase in mileage and meal allowance and restoration of suspended drivers, some of whom are reportedly involved in different train accidents.

The strike left thousands of passengers stranded at various railway stations across the country. They faced great hardships as all the trains were late for hours, with the hot and humid weather worsening the situation for them.

Several trains remained stranded the whole night as a result of the strike as the drivers disrupted the entire system and stopped Tezgam, Karakoram Express, Fareed Express, Khyber Mail, Allama Iqbal Express, Millat Express and Pakistan Express at Rohri, Mehrabpur, Khairpur and other stations.

The Loco Running Staff Association (LRSA) said they were being threatened instead of their demands being accepted by the high-ups. Saad, on the contrary, stated that the ministry had already hinted at accepting the demands.

The LRSA said the drivers would not withdraw their demands and the trains running from Quetta were to be also halted.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Pakistan Railways warned of strict action against the drivers involved in halting the train operation. Six drivers from Rawalpindi and eight from Karachi had been arrested, he added.

The Railways Police had been directed to launch an operation against the drivers and register cases under the Terrorism Act, the spokesman said. He observed that the five-day leave applications of drivers would be dismissed.

Contractual drivers were called in to keep the train operation running smoothly in the country, according to the spokesperson.

Saad had earlier stated that halting the train operation was tantamount to terrorism.Speaking to the media at the Railway Headquarters, he said 13 drivers, who tried to create problems for passengers by stopping trains in deserted areas, had been arrested. “Cases under the Anti-Terrorism Act would be registered against these drivers,” he said. He urged the other drivers who are on strike to call off the strike and resume duty.

The minister further stated that authorities would welcome the drivers leaving the strike group and joining their duties. He also apologised to passengers for their troubles.

Meanwhile, the railways ministry spokesperson has claimed that the strike was over and trains were moving from Lahore as per schedule. All operations were normal, he added. “We will not be blackmailed because it is impossible to restore drivers involved in accidents and loss of human lives,” the spokesperson said.

The negotiations between the train drivers and Divisional Superintendent (DS) at Rawalpindi, however, remained unsuccessful as 128 out 138 drivers applied for leave. The passengers at the Rawalpindi Railway Station are facing serious troubles due to the strike. A clash erupted between the drivers and the railway authorities at the Sukkur Railway Station. The protesters claimed that the SD had made their leaders hostage and was trying to hand them over to the police.