KARACHI: Motorcycle-rickshaw operators are planning to bring back the three-wheelers on the roads from Monday after the Supreme Court of Pakistan overrode the ban ordered on their plying by the Sindh High Court in August 2015, it emerged on Thursday.

In its Jan 6 order, a two-judge SC bench had directed the operators of motorcycle-rickshaws, better known as Qingqi rickshaws, to meet the requirements of rules and specifications by not allowing more than four-plus-one passengers as pointed out in a report submitted in the apex court by the transport secretary.

The SC in its direction also stated that it is essential that each and every Qingqi rickshaw, not only in Sindh, but in other provinces also, should be inspected and verified. It is only after the three-wheelers are declared and certified fit in all respects that they will be allowed to ply only “on the specified routes”.

The secretaries of the provincial transport departments were also directed to ensure compliance of the order by providing a compliance report within three months.

Slapped with a ban in August last year, the Qingqis were ordered off the roads in all the provinces after a petition was filed in the court by a civil rights campaigner, Rana Faizul Hasan, in 2012. The petitioner had asked the court to ban the three-wheelers operating in the metropolis without permits, registration and licence plates. Later, former additional IG Karachi Ghulam Qadir Thebo launched a crackdown against the three-wheelers under the Motor Vehicle Ordinance, driving hundreds of them off the roads.

Explaining the directives given to them by the SC, president of the All Karachi Qingqi Rickshaw Welfare Association Syed Safdar Shah said the court made it mandatory for drivers to be above the age of 18. They should also have driving licence and route permit, he added.

The drivers were asked to ensure that there were back lights on the three-wheelers, some distance between the motorcycle-rickshaw and passengers, and a latch door on the back for their safety.

To comply with the SC orders, the association president has called a meeting of all the stakeholders, including the drivers and the manufacturers, on Jan 18. Though very much in agreement with the court order, Mr Shah has a few complaints against the provincial government.

He said: “The Sindh government should support us considering the dearth of an alternative when it comes to public transport in the city. Instead they keep a partial attitude towards us that apart from affecting the livelihoods of Qingqi owners is not fair to passengers across the city.”

Sindh Transport Secretary Tuaha Ahmed Farooqui said the Qingqi rickshaw issues report, which was submitted in the court with Pakistan Quality Standard Control Authority, Pakistan Engineering Board, motor vehicle examiner, Mir Shabbar from the NED university as its signatories, was in the knowledge of the All Karachi Qingqi Welfare Association.

Mr Farooqui said the SC acknowledged the report submitted by the transport department. He said: “We can’t subsidise the Qingqis and the reasons are the same as before: the fitness of the three-wheeler comes before everything else as it involves the safety of the public.”

He said the Motor Vehicle Ordinance had provision for three-seater only while the provision for four-seater would be made only after making an amendment to the ordinance.

As for taking out the Qingqis from next week, Mr Farooqui said it would happen only after the operators of the three-wheelers fulfilled the requirements.

Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2016