RAWALPINDI: The month of August has brought fortune to some traders, especially those in the rent-a-motorbike business, as local leaders of political parties have started hiring bikes for their activists to take part in different rallies.
The provincial government departments are arranging motorcycle rallies from August 7 to August 14 to celebrate the Independence Day.
The opposition Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) of Imran Khan, Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) of Dr Tahirul Qadri and Awami Muslim League (AML) of Sheikh Rashid Ahmed will also hold motorcycle rallies from August 9 to August 14.
The PTI workers have also started booking bikes for their August 14 Azadi march to Islamabad as the party has asked its local chapter to arrange at least 100 motorcycles from each union council.
Faisal Butt, a rent-a-motorbike dealer at Circular Road, said usually a few people took motorbikes on rent but after Eidul Fitr his business had increased manifold. “We give bikes to those who submit their computerised national identity cards to us as a guarantee that the vehicle will be returned safely.”
He said many people wanted to book motorbikes for August 13 for 24 to 48 hours.
Another dealer, Mohammad Suleman, said he had also repaired some old motorbikes to give them on rent. He said only low cost and old motorbikes were available on rent.
“Some youngsters came with guarantees of their local leaders and even an MPA to get 20 motorbikes on rent. I have promised them to arrange the bikes on August 13,” he said.
During a visit to the Circular Road, some youths were seen asking for motorbikes on rent for August 11 and the Independence Day.
Mohammad Saqib, 25, a resident of Nayya Mohallah, said he and his friends planned to get motorbikes on rent to attend a rally. He said a PTI local leader had asked them to attend the rally and “his secretary also gave us some money.”
Raja Abbas, a resident of College Road, said the PML-N had planned to hold a rally on August 11 from Raja Bazaar to Saidpur Road. He said the PML-N local leaders had promised to provide financial assistance to the youngsters for arranging bikes and attending the rally.
When contacted, PTI Punjab vice-president Tariq Mehboob Kiani said they had not provided money to any youngsters to arrange motorbikes or cars but people were voluntarily taking vehicles on rent for the rally.
“Our workers are active and want to take part in the march against the rulers who came to power by rigging the elections. People are arranging vehicles to attend the rally,” he said.
On the other hand, PML-N former MNA Malik Shakil Awan said his party would hold a rally in the garrison city on August 11 to celebrate the Independence Day.
“The youngsters are spending their pocket money on arranging vehicles for the rally and it is a proof that they are with the PML-N. The Independence Day celebrations are largely being attended by young people,” he said.
Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2014
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