Lahore: Motorcycle rickshaws at the mercy of violent extortionists

[Naveed Yaseen]

By Ali Raza
MONEY extortion from owners of wagons and buses in the name of ‘Adda fees’ is not a new phenomenon in the City but now owners of motorcycle rickshaws have also become victims of this mafia.

A survey of City localities revealed that majority of owners of motorcycle rickshaws were the victims of extortion. It revealed that extortionists were men employed by contractors of halting points for motorcycle rickshaws.

According to rules and regulations of the City District Government Lahore (CDGL), contractors can issue a ticket to motorcycle rickshaws for Rs 5 per day. After getting a ticket, motorcycle rickshaw drivers can use any of the halting points designated by the Public Facilities Department of the CDGL.

But every motorcycle rickshaw owner leaving the halting point is forced to pay Rs 10 per round in addition to the Rs 5 ticket. Rickshaw owners said that those collecting this money were men working for contractor of halting points.

“In case anyone refuses to pay Rs 10 per round, he has to face serious consequences,” said Shahzad, a motorcycle rickshaw standing at Railway Station. “Extortionists move in a group of three or more and if anyone tries to argue with them, they take him to a nearby tent where the driver is beaten up,” said Mushtaq, another motorcycle rickshaw driver. He said no case is registered if a driver went to police as it favoured extortionists.

Tufail, another motorcycle rickshaw driver standing at Data Darbar, said the CDGL gave contract of all halting points to Zulfiqar Chaudhry and his men were responsible for taking extortion from motorcycle rickshaws. He said the CDGL awarded contract to Zulfiqar Chaudhry to manage the halting points and if anyone was extorting money from rickshaw drivers then he was responsible.

Zulfiqar Chaudhry admitted that the phenomenon of extorting money from motorcycle rickshaws existed but refused to name any one. He said that he or his staff was not involved in this practice. He said he was not responsible for the acts of those extorting money from rickshaw drivers and it was the duty of police and the CDGL to book such people.

When contacted, the district officer (public facilities) said that he will look into the issue and strict action will be taken against extortionists. He said special teams will be constituted to monitor halting points of motorcycle rickshaws across the city. He said if the contractor was found involved, his contract would be cancelled immediately.

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