Inconvenienced by the train engine drivers' protest in Sukkur, passengers wander around the station, desperately awaiting any developments.

 

SUKKUR: Millat Express and Karakoram Express ? scheduled to go from Karachi to Faisalabad and Lahore, respectively ? are now en route to their assigned destinations, following a protest by engine drivers late Saturday night, wherein they halted the trains here at Rohri Station.

The trains are being operated by substitute drivers, officials explained, adding that they are looking for other alternates to resume the remaining trains.

Pakistan Railway's engine drivers in protest against their demands not being met had stopped their trains at Rohri Station, causing distress and inconvenience to numerous passengers.

"There's no water or food here and it is terribly hot. Adding to our woes, shopkeepers have bumped up prices of basic items fivefold!" one of the passengers at Rohri Station lamented.

"We have kids with us and they are getting worried," said another.

"Officials at this station are unaware of any developments and are redirecting us to one another, shying away from responsibility," stated yet another.

Inconvenienced by the train engine drivers' protest in Sukkur, passengers wander around the station, desperately awaiting any developments.

More than 200 drivers had already submitted requests for holidays and said that they were determined to make the protest effective. "Trains coming in from various other cities will be halted here at Rohri Station," one of the drivers said.

Consequently, a Pakistan Railways spokesperson commented on the situation and said that strong action will be taken against the protesting drivers. "We will have the case registered under Terrorism Act," the spokesperson stated.

While the requests for the five-day-long holiday have been denied, the spokesperson explained that the justified ones will be approved.

The spokesperson, noting that the protesting drivers desire their fired colleagues be reinstated, stressed that Pakistan Railways "will not be blackmailed by drivers involved in bloody accidents".

At present, trains at 13 stations in the Sukkur division have been halted.

Khyber Express and Sukkur Express, going to Karachi, are parked at Shahdadpur Station, while Shalimar Express (Karachi-Lahore), Allama Iqbal Express (Sialkot-Karachi), Pakistan Express (Rawalpindi-Karachi), and Fareed Express are stopped at Rohri Station.

On the other hand, Tezgam ? en route from Karachi to Rawalpindi ? is halted at Begmaji Station.