After horrible Ahmadpur Sharqia incident that claimed many precious lives, Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) in the best interest of public, imposed strict regulations regard the fitness of vehicles. But All Pakistan Oil Tankers Association (APOTA) refused to accept new rules of OGRA, stating that regulations imposed cannot be implemented on such short notice. APOTA gave the call of nationwide strike and in result of it petrol pumps remained short of oil supply for three days, eventually people had to face severe difficulties in search of petrol as long queues were seen outside pumps.
At first OGRA stated blackmailing of tankers association would not be considered, but as it happens, it had to show flexibility to accept demands of strikers and after successful negotiations APOTA announced to end the strike. On Wednesday, APOTA Chairman, Mir Muhammad Shahwani said, “Our demands have been accepted and soon the supply will resume.” He blamed the government for the difficulties faced by the masses due to shortage.
It is being reported that APOTA end the strike on own terms and conditions and OGRA once again had to take a step back from its logical demand that technical standards of oil containers and vehicles should be improved. It is alarming to know that in a report of third-party inspectors, only 4,653 oil tankers were declared in compliance of safety standards out of total 11,704 tankers in the country.
Strike has ended, but ORGA must keep pushing for improved standards of oil transportation system.
Another conspiracy?
As per media reports Law Minister Rana Sanaullah has alleged that Supreme Court’s is being used as a cover to topple the democratic government of Nawaz Sharif, apprehending that if it happens the country will face instability. Rana Sanaullah is an old political worker and knows very well about constitution and laws. When Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz was trying to make Joint Investigating Team (JIT) controversial that act should also have been condemned but now it is ridiculous that Rana Sanaullah has taken a step further to make Supreme Court controversial. We believe that nobody will brush aside his arguments because this type of speech or statement is a step to influence court. It’s our advice to avoid this kind of attitude and everyone should wait for final verdict of Supreme Court.