FAISALABAD – All Pakistan Oil Tankers Owners Association (APOTOA) divisional chairman Ali Abbas Awan has clarified that their association will not support any call of strike to press for the demand for increase in the cargo transportation rates. “We condemn any such demand for increase in shipping charges,” he said. He was speaking at a meeting chaired by APOTOA Central Chairman Haji Akram Khan Durrani in Faisalabad. The meeting was held to discuss the current issues. “We have no plan to further increase the miseries of the nation which is already facing a number of other problems,” said Ali Abbass Awan.
“Instead of giving a strike call or arbitrarily raising shipping charge, we have submitted our demands to the government authorities,” he said and added the association would wait for the government response and was optimistic that the authorities would give a due consideration to their reasonable demands.
He reiterated APOTOA’s commitment not to intensify the nation’s problems through strikes or demands for increase in cargo charges, adding such demands would open the floodgates of price hikes.
PO, TWO WOMEN HELD, ABDUCTEE RECOVERED: Jarranwala police arrested a proclaimed offender and his two female accomplices on the charge of kidnapping a person for ransom. According to details, accused Abid wanted by police in a number of cases kidnapped Riasat Ali son of Fazal from Chak No 375 GB. The victim was trapped by two women, Makhan Bibi and Shafi Bibi who called him and handed him over to the accused. The accused contacted the victim’s family and demanded Rs 500,000 ransom for his release.
He was kept in the surrounding area of the River Ravi near Syedwala. Jarranwala police succeeded in finding the whereabouts and raided the place. Abid was arrested and Riasat recovered from his custody. The police also arrested Makhan Bibi and Shafi Bibi during the raid.
‘Oil tankers’ strike will not be backed’
