Protests in Rawalpindi, Islamabad as CNG strike continues

TrendPK.com

Rawalpindi: The CNG dealers continued their strike in Punjab, including Islamabad and Rawalpindi on Monday, triggering protests in various cities, TrendPK reports.

Chairman CNG Owners Association accused government of unfair distribution of the fuel while Secretary Petroleum Ministry claims petroleum prices were raised after consultation with CNG dealers.

The dealers rejected raise in gas prices, saying it would put an extra burden on the masses who were already groaning under inflation.

CNG dealers in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad went on an indefinite strike on Sunday at the end of the three-day weekly closure, shutting down filling stations in Punjab and Potohar region.

The strike was observed against latest increase in prices and ban on provision of CNG to public transport vehicles with kits installed on the rooftops or beneath the seats.

The closure multiplied miseries of commuters as they were faced the worst situation, prompting protest demonstrations in Lahore, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi and other cities.

Hundreds of protestors, including transporters and traders, gathered at Adiyala road of Rawalpindi and staged protest demonstration, shutting down markets and business activities.

In Islamabad, the trader community suspended business activities in the federal capital where hundreds of people took to roads in protest against the CNG closure. They urged the government to withdraw the recent increase in prices for both CNG and domestic consumers.

Long queues of vehicles were seen outside filling stations in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, with local residents criticizing both the government and filling station owners for closing supply for five days running.

The government has directed CNG station owners in Punjab to shut down filling stations for six hours a day.

Sources said the decision was taken by Sui Northern Gas Company. In the first phase, they said, it would be implemented in Lahore and Sheikhupura where the fuel supply to gas stations would be suspended for three hours in morning and evening, 6 pm to 9 pm. — TrendPK

Players strike tarnishes Spanish game’s reputation

The first players strike in nearly three decades could damage Spain s status as world champions and risked alienating fans who lost the first La Liga round on Saturday (August 20).

Atletico Madrid fan, Jesus, said that he supports the strike called by the Spanish Football Players Union (AFE).

“It seems good to me that the players go on strike because they are workers, they have their contracts and they have to be fulfilled and if they are not paid they have to claim and well, they have to earn as the rest of the workers,” he said.

“Okay, there are privileges because they earn more than other workers but they have rights as any other worker. They have the right to go to the strike.”

Real Madrid fan Miguel travelled from Sevilla, in the South of Spain, to Madrid to watch his side first league match against Atletico Bilbao.

“I used to go to Real Madrid s first match of the league. I already booked the hotel and the train and everything but the strike has ruined it,” he said.

Talks between the players union (AFE), which last week called the strike for the first two rounds of matches in the top two divisions, and the professional football league (LFP), which represents the 42 clubs affected, failed to prevent the action.

European champions Barcelona and Real Madrid, the two richest clubs by revenue in the world, had been due to start their campaigns on Sunday night.

Talks are now centred on preventing the second round of matches being halted which would create serious problems in the sporting calendar.

At the heart of the dispute is the union s demand that an emergency fund be set up to cover wages that have not been paid to players at clubs that have gone into financial administration.

The union says around 50 million euros ($72 million) is owed to 200 footballers from the end of last season, and the league s proposed 40 million euro fund is not enough to cover a growing problem.

Joaquin, owner of a picturesque Real Madrid fan bar, said that the strike is harming his business.

Formers stop cotton picking

In reaction to it formers stopped cotton picking, rendering thousands of women jobless. Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association continued their strike against the imposition of withholding Tax, due to which factory owners stopped buying cotton. This situation has endangered the jobs of millions of cotton-pickers. Ginners Association representatives say they will continue their strike until the withdrawal of the tax.

Lahore: Chicken price dispute resolved

The chicken price soared up to Rs 230 per kg from Rs 150 per kg during the last few weeks.

The Lahore district administration fixed the price at Rs 200 a kg but the Poultry Traders Association refused to accept the rates and went on strike.
After the strike of the Poultry Traders Association, chicken sale was partially suspended in Lahore for two days.

The chicken sale has been restored in the city, following an agreement between the Poultry Traders Association and the district administration for selling the chicken at Rs 215 per kg.

Shutter down strike in Kalat and Surab

A complete shutter down strike was observed in Kalat and Surab upon the protest call by BNF and BSO (Azad); all markets and business centers remain closed.

This strike was called by BNF when two dead bodies of BSO (Azad)s workers were found from Turbat, after which a complete shutter down strike is being observed in Kalat, Surab and Khuzdar; where as traffic seen is also lesser than normal.

Air traffic controllers’ strike in Spian leaveds passengers in chaos

On one hand bad weather has badly affected the flight operations in almost the whole continent of Europe while on the other hand travelling has become difficult in Spain despite normal weather conditions. This has happened due to the strike of air traffic controllers. The strike has landed all the passengers in a chaotic and dismayed condition. Thousands of passengers were off-loaded and sent back from the airports.

8 killed in US drone attacks in North Waziristan

At least 8 people were killed in US drone strikes launched Wednesday evening in North Waziristan.
According to sources, two US drones fired four missiles at two vehicles in the Qutab Khel area and Mir Ali in North Waziristan.
Details about the identity of the killed in the strike are not immediately available. Todays strike is the third of its kind since November. On Nov. 1, the US drones fired four missiles in North Waziristan, killing at least six people.

4 killed in US drone attack in North Waziristan

At least four people were killed and another was injured in US drone strikes launched Wednesday evening in North Waziristan.
According to sources, two US drones fired four missiles at two vehicles in the Qutab Khel area of North Waziristan, a tribal region in northwest Pakistan, which is believed to be a stronghold of militants.
Details about the identity of the killed in the strike are not immediately available. Todays strike is the second of its kind since November. On Nov. 1, the US drones fired four missiles in North Waziristan, killing at least six people.

Drone strike kills 5 in North Waziristan

Staff Report

MIRANSHAH: A missile strike by a drone killed five militants and left several others injured in North Waziristan tribal region on Monday.

The pre-dawn attack targeted militants sleeping at a compound in Haider Khel village of Mir Ali district in North Waziristan, 25 kilometres (15 miles) east of the region’s main town of Miranshah.

According to security sources, at least five militants were killed in the strike. Trend Pk

Rehman pledges to support SAMAA’s Aijaz, Arif families

Staff Report

KARACHI: Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik has pledged to support the families of SAMAA’s martyred employees, Aijaz Raisani and Malik Arif, by giving a job in police or FIA.

The members of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Assembly recited Fateha and paid tribute to SAMAA’s cameraman, who succumbed to injuries on Monday morning. SAMAA

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