Train drivers ready to resume operations

ISLAMABAD: The representatives of the train drivers on strike since Saturday have announced to give up strike for the time being and join the talks offered by railway authorities at Railway Headquarters in Lahore. However, they have demanded immediate release of all those railway drivers who have been arrested as an outcome of the strike.

Earlier on early Sunday morning, Minister of Railways Saad Rafique addressed a Press conference at Railway Headquarters in Lahore in which he said that railway operations in various parts of the country had resumed after remaining suspended overnight.

Around 276 train drivers had stopped their locomotives on the tracks after the Train Drivers Welfare Association called for an "indefinite strike" to press demands, which included upgrading the pay scales of railway employees, paying overtime wages, and reinstatement of sacked colleagues.

Addressing a press conference, the minister said that the "irresponsibility" of the drivers participating in the strike had caused problems for the passengers, adding that the strike had upset the train schedule. However, trains will now begin to depart and arrive on time, he said.

The minister said that the drivers' demands regarding pay scales would be considered. The other demands, however, were dismissed.

Regarding the drivers' demand for the reinstatement of sacked colleagues, the minister said that it was not possible because they had been fired after a number of lives were lost in accidents due to their negligence.

"No trains are suspended due to the strike right now," said the minister.

A number of drivers who had participated in last night's protests were arrested after operations resumed. However, the exact number of those arrested remains unclear; Rafique claimed that 13 were arrested, while the drivers' association said that 30 drivers had been taken into custody.

A First Information Report was registered against the drivers at the railway police station in Rawalpindi under the Anti-Terrorism Act, a Pakistan Railways spokesperson said.

The spokesperson termed the protest a "criminal act" and said that the drivers were attempting to "blackmail" the administration into accepting their demands.

Meanwhile, passengers landed into immense trouble as railway drivers went on a strike over non-fulfillment of their demands.

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

Passengers waited for long hours as Shalimar Express, Krachi Express, night coach and other trains were delayed at Lahore stations.

Similar situation occurred at Karachi and Rohri railway station where troubled passengers were seen slamming the railway authorities.

The train drivers have demanded the authorities to provide them mileage allowance, reinstatement of suspended collegaues and up-gradation of pay scale.

In the aftermath of the strike, railway authorities in a bid to control the situation arranged for alternative drivers and restored the operation.

Later, the strike ended in Karachi and Awam Express departed from Cantt railway station following a delay.

Meanwhile, the second round of negotiations with the train drivers failed in Sukkur. Angry protesters clashed with the police while accusing them of arresting their leaders after inviting them for holding talks on the matter. - NNI