KARACHI: The Oil Tankers Association of Pakistan (OTAP) chairman Mir Muhammad Yousaf Shahwani on Saturday said that the oil tanker truck owners are being exploited by cruel policies of the government that has turned the blind eye to the problems and miseries of the sector. He announced a strike from July 24 till their demands are fully met. Addressing a press conference at Karachi Press Club, he said despite transporters pay their taxes three months before their earnings they never got any relief from the government. He complained that motorway police and excise police impose fines on oil tankers trucks to get bribes. He held the motorway police responsible for Ahmadpur East tragedy and said this incident took place in the presence of the motorway police and patrolling police. He complained that the tankers’ owners are being victimized by motorway police in Punjab and by excise police in Sindh. He alleged that the excise police people were crooks and extortionists. He further said that Sindh government has increased taxes on oil tankers by 15percent. Shahwani reminded the Gaddani inferno incident also and showed his anger toward the poor response of the federal government which had not compensated the victims as yet. He appealed the Supreme Court of Pakistan to form a judicial committee to unveil the real causes behind both the incidents and demanded to take stern legal action against those who are found guilty. He also appealed to stop heavy fines being imposing by the motorway police. He said ministry of petroleum has handed over all powers, regarding oil tankers affairs, to Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), but OGRA has held no meeting with OTAP as yet. He further said that Pakistan State Oil (PSO) is a national asset but some elements are intentionally destroying it for their petty interests. He said that all their demands were legal and they are not in favor to halt the economic wheel of the land, but the harassing government policies are making them compel to announce strike. Published in Daily Times, July 23rd , 2017.