Besieged Pakistan tank-truck drivers rebel

Aug. 22, 2006
Increasing terrorist attacks on truckers transporting cheap oil from Pakistan to war-torn Afghanistan, have prompted an angry reaction from Pakistani tank-truck owners.

By an OGJ correspondent
KARACHI, Aug. 22 -- Increasing terrorist attacks on truckers transporting cheap oil from Pakistan to war-torn Afghanistan, have prompted an angry reaction from Pakistani tank-truck owners.

On Aug. 9, members of the All Pakistan Oil Tanker Owners Association (APOTOA) threatened a nationwide strike in 2 weeks unless Pakistan and Afghanistan provide protection for them.

Within 2 months, nine tanker-trucks have been attacked in Kandahar, Afghanistan, while three were bombed inside the Pakistan border near Chaman in Balochistan province.

APOTOA Chairman Mir Muhammad Yousaf Shahwani said a number of drivers have been killed, but their families have not received any compensation from either government or from Rawalpindi, Pakistan-based Attock Refinery Ltd. (ARL). Attock Oil Co. Ltd. owns 52.5% of ARL.