The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday heard an appeal to set aside the SHC order of imposing a ban on three-wheelers motorcycle rickshaws, better known as Qingqi rickshaws. The apex court has sought a comprehensive project report from the Sindh transport secretary regarding alternate transport for Qingqi rickshaws.
The SC bench comprising Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Maqbool Bakar questioned representative of the transport department that what progress has been made regarding alternate transport of Qingqi rickshaws.
“Mass Transit project is ready to go but its land has been encroached by some people and action is being taken against them,” the representative of transport department submitted.
The court remarked: “The Japanese government is funding this project but they surely cannot send their army to remove the encroachments made on the project’s land. It is your responsibility.”
Secretary Transport Taha Farooqi and the DIG of traffic police also appeared before the court. The SC bench questioned Farooqi about the court’s yesterday’s direction for holding a meeting with Qingqi association and other relevant departments to make a comprehensive plan for alternate transport for the citizens.
Farooqi requested the court to give respite for this purpose. The court directed him to file a written statement in this regard. The court observed that citizens had started relying on Qingqi rickshaws due to shortage of public transport. Commuters were being forced to travel on the buses’ rooftops which was more dangerous, the SC bench remarked. The apex court directed secretary transport to hold a meeting with Qingqi association and other relevant departments to make a comprehensive plan for alternate transport for the citizens.
The hearing of the case was adjourned for two weeks.
The Sindh High Court (SHC) on 5th August had imposed a ban on running of Qingqi rickshaws operating without route permits and other necessary documentations on main roads of Karachi and other parts of Sindh. The SHC had also directed traffic police and transport authorities to take action against Qingqi rickshaws. The SHC bench comprising Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi and Justice Mohammad Junaid Ghaffar in its verdict observed that plying of these rickshaws is violation of Motor Vehicle Rules 1969.