Jaffar and Akbar expresses were delayed while Bolan Express cancelled as Pakistan Railways drivers’ protest entered fourth day on Wednesday. The protesting railways drivers have refused to drive debilitated engines.
Visitors in Quetta are facing difficulties for past three days as trains seem to be the only economical solution for hundreds of them. Bolan Express that was scheduled to depart for Karachi was cancelled on Wednesday.
Rawalpindi-bound Jaffar Express and Lahore-bound Akbar Express faced delay. Railways employees have demanded the ministry to replace wrecked engines with fresh ones.
The drivers said that only two engines are left that make movement in Balochistan possible. They said that trains are meeting accidents after regular intervals due to the condition of engines.
Passengers waited at Quetta station in hope for departure as protest continued. Two trains namely, Bolan that was bound for Karachi while another passenger train bound for Chaman were cancelled on Tuesday.
It is worthwhile mentioning here that on November 17, as many as 17 lives were lost while more than 100 had sustained injuries as Jaffar Express derailed in Bolan.
The Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique had held driver of the express responsible for the Bolan derailment.
It was recorded among several accidents in the past in which the ministry had termed the drivers responsible for fatal accidents. The latest incident has prompted drivers to take a stand against ministry’s habit of allegedly covering up faulty practices.