The Sindh High Court has sought comments from the Sindh chief secretary, transport secretary, Rangers director general, and provincial police chief on a petition against the law enforcers for allegedly seizing water tankers unlawfully, harassing tankers’ divers and operators and using their tankers for barricading thoroughfares for rallies and demonstrations.
The petitioner, All Karachi Water Tankers Ittehad’s representative Muhammad Riaz approached the court, claiming that during last few years, people whose livelihood depends on water tankers, were undergoing mental agony as the personnel of the law enforcement agencies are harassing them and seizing tankers for extorting money.
The tankers are snatched by the LEAs personnel to block roads to facilitate rallies and demonstrations of political and religious parties, adding this practice is causing havoc to their livelihood. The petitioner said that in the past tankers were damaged and set ablaze by demonstrators but not compensation was paid.
The petitioner alleged that the LEAs personnel are coercing tankers’ operators and drivers to deliver water at their residences free of charge.
They said they have been meted out injustice and they are unable to make both ends meet.
Naming Sindh chief secretary, transport secretary, Rangers director general, and IG Sindh as respondents, the petitioner pleaded to the court restrain the respondents from illegally seizing water tankers and tankers’ divers and operators. The court was also pleaded to restrain LEAs from taking any coercive action against the petitioner’s members.