MULTAN, Feb 25: Commuters faced disappointment again on Friday when they did not find any public transport at bus and wagon stands, as all the vehicles have been impounded by the district administration to bring people for the public meeting of President Gen Pervez Musharraf.

The meeting is being held here on Saturday. Shortage of transport was evident on Thursday, but it turned out to be a bitter experience for people on Friday. People, including women and children, were seen boarding trucks and other vehicles meant for goods' transportation. Some of the passengers told Dawn that the truckers were charging double the fare of public transport. Taxi drivers were also seen stuffing people for exorbitant fare.

The vehicles impounded by the administration were parked in the Police Lines and its Civil Lines College nearby. The impounded vehicles were being handed over to the heads of local councils and the office-bearers of the PML under the supervision of Federal Agriculture Minister Haji Sikander Hayat Bosan and District Nazim Riaz Qureshi.

It may be added here that the task of bringing people to the meeting had been given to the union council Nazims and MNAs and MPAs belonging to Multan and its surrounding districts.

Multan Wagon Owners Association Secretary General Sher Afgan alleged the administration had forcibly impounded their vehicles. He said transporters and commuters were made scapegoat on 'VIP visits.' He said officials usually promised to pay for the forced service, but they forgot their word after the event.

Bus Owners Association's Tariq Gujjar said the administration paid the rent for the impounded vehicles only to outspoken and influential transporters while others were prevaricated only by paying the price of fuel. He said the vehicles would remain impounded for two to three days for the president's visit.

When contacted, the Nazim dispelled the impression that owners of the impounded vehicles would not be paid. He said the district government had allocated Rs2.5 million to transport people to the venue.

He said the administration had to forcibly impound vehicles in some cases when the transporters refused to cooperate. President Musharraf is scheduled to address the public meeting at the Multan Cricket Stadium for which security has been beefed up in the city.

VEHARI: Thousands of commuters had to suffer in Vehari as well in the absence of public transport. People from all walks of life, especially students, daily wagers and patients, faced hardship in Mailsi, Burewala, Karampur, Luddan, Gagoo Mandi, Garamore, Tibba Sultanpur, Chowk Metla, Thingi, Pirmurad, Khanewal, Dunyapur and Kehror Pakka, besides Vehari city.

The police started impounding vehicles from various bus and wagon stands and even from main roads on Thursday. Most of the drivers disappeared leaving their vehicles in a bid to avert seizures.

A group of class eight students, who had to appear in examination, told Dawn that they reached the examination centre on a donkey cart due to unavailability of transport.

A banker, Muhammad Aslam, standing at the bus stop termed the act of impounding vehicles illegal. Wagon driver Abdul Wahid said he had to bribe traffic police to avoid seizure.

A With the impounding of over 90 per cent public transport vehicles till Friday evening. The remaining vehicles were taken off road by the owners to avoid seizure. Police sources said that the district administration had asked the traffic police to arrange around 400 vehicles for transporting people to the public meeting in Multan.

District officials, including DCO, district Nazim and Tehsil Nazims will also attended the public meeting on Saturday (today). When contacted, traffic DSP Rana Abdul Majeed claimed the police seized a few vehicles with the consent of the owner, who would be paid the due rent.

Local leaders of various opposition parties, including Rao Khalil, Tufail Warraich, Eng Mohammad Rafique, Rao Sajid and Prof Hameedulah Khan criticized the district administration for anti-people activities.