HAFIZABAD-The commuters of Hafizabad have expressed their grave concern over the overcharging of fares between Hafizabad and other cities by the van and bus transporters with connivance of the traffic police, stand owners and transport authority.
According to a survey conducted by this correspondent, the bus/van stand owners are charging at least 50 percent above the fare fixed by the District/Regional Transport Authority. They are charging Rs 60 as against Rs43 for Gujranwala, Rs140/- for Lahore via Sheikhpura as against Rs74, Rs150 for Hafizabad-Sargodha as against Rs88, Rs70 between Hafizabad and Pindi Bhattian as against Rs 40, Rs50 for Sukheke against Rs29, Rs140 for Faisalabad against Rs88, Rs140 for Mandi Bahauddin against Rs65, Rs50 for AlipurChatha as against Rs21, Rs400 for Islamabad against Rs226 and Rs. 210 for Lahore via Motorway as against Rs140 fixed by the District/Regional Transport Authority.
According to transporters, bus stand owners were extracting Rs 400/- to Rs. 600/- per vehicle from them, owing to which they were realising fare over and above the fixed rate. According to reliable sources, the transporters were charging excessive fares from the commuters to pay bribe to the personnel of different departments as well as to pay heavy parking fee to the stand owners.
The local commuters have called upon the DCO and District/Regional Transporter Authority to take serious action against the transporters and stand owners for making mockery of law and to eliminate theirloot and khasoot and provide relief to the commuters.
RAIDS: The District Live Stock Department has launched crackdown on the meat sellers who were selling beef and mutton injurious to health. On a tip off, DO Live Stock raided Bhoon Kalan village and seized a quantity of substandard meat and imposed Rs. two thousand fine on Gulzar Ahmad.
The officer has warned the meat sellers to refrain from selling substandard meat otherwise they would be dealt with sternly.
ROBBERIES: A villager was deprived of his bike, cash and gold ornaments by another shopkeeper were deprived of thousands of rupees at pistol point at two different places. According to police source, Allah Ditta son of Sher Muhammad Kharl alongwith his two female members of his family of Chah Innu village was on way to nearby village on an “applied for” bike and when he reached near Jhang Branch canal (Kaleke) three armed bandits intercepted him and snatched away gold ornaments, bike and Rs. 4700/-.
Another Asmatullah son of Muhammad Inayat Chadhar of Jahanian was on way to Hafizabad on a bike after closing his shop and when he reached near Dhingranwali village four bandits intercepted him. They attempted to snatch bike but he offered resistance but the accused thrashed him and snatched away Rs. 11600/- and cell phone.
FILLING STATION CAUGHT FIRE: A filling station worth was burnt to ashes when a fire erupted at the station on KotSarwar-Hafizabad Road near Kaleke Mandi.
The fire was caused when a bike rider allegedly thrown cigarette near the filling station when the petrol was being decanted. However, fire fighters of Rescue-1122 rushed to the spot and saved the huge quantity of petrol in the filling station underground tank after three hours struggle. Due to the fire vehicular traffic on the road remained suspended for more than four hours.