Twin towns paralyzed by security blockades

RAWALPINDI:

Residents of twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad faced a lot of inconvenience and their daily lives were almost paralyzed on Wednesday night and Thursday after the administration and police sealed all entry and exit points, closed Faizabad interchange and suspended Metrobus service ahead of PTI Tarnol rally, ongoing Pakistan-Bangladesh test series in Rawalpindi and a sit-in in Islamabad in connection with Mubarak Sani case.

This administrative measure follows the imposition of Section 144 in Islamabad, Rawalpindi and across Punjab to ban gatherings, meetings and sit-ins.

The blockades and suspension of transport have led to a complete paralysis of social, commercial and business activities in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The traffic system of Rawalpindi has been completely disrupted, turning the entire city into a container city.

Students, public and private sector employees and complainants faced severe hardships. Attendance at educational institutions and government offices remained low. There were also fewer prisoners and complainants present in the courts as prisoners were not brought from Adiala Jail to the courts for hearing.

All major roads of Rawalpindi including Mall Road, Katchery Chowk, Airport Road, Murree Road, City Saddar Road and Rawal Road witnessed severe traffic jams. Similarly, Rawalpindi Sixth Road along with Faizabad road, GT Road from Swan Bridge, Chak Bailey Chowk, Bhai Khan Bridge near Gujarkhan, major roads connecting Rawat T Chowk, 26 Chongi, Motorway Link Road below Taxila, Margalla near Taxila and others were closed by erecting barriers.

Due to the closures, wholesale markets, grain markets and all shopping centers were unable to receive supplies of grains, vegetables and fruits from outside the city, leading to an increase in the prices of vegetables and fruits.

Ambulances remained stuck in traffic jams throughout the day. Although the police were relieved by the cancellation of the PTI rally, the roads remained tarred till evening.

This situation has allowed commercial cyclists like Bykea to make a lot of money, charging stranded citizens between 300 and 400 rupees for distances of two to three kilometres.

Authorities have blocked national highways and motorways along major roads of the twin cities at various places since Thursday morning. After the PTI withdrew the call for the rally and announced that it would be held on September 8, traffic on motorways and national roads was partially opened.

In addition, the cricket match between Pakistan and Bangladesh made the stadium road and surrounding areas of Rawalpindi off-limits for four consecutive days. Due to the road closures, schools were closed earlier than scheduled as a precautionary measure and long-distance vehicles were unable to reach schools. Residents, traders and students who commute daily from nearby tehsils such as Gujar Khan, Kahuta, Kotli Sattian, Murree and Taxila also faced difficulties.

This time, a record number of containers were placed to block the road. Layers of containers were stacked on the main road connecting Faizabad to Islamabad, with three containers stacked on top of each other. Even small passages for pedestrians and motorcycles under the containers were blocked, creating significant difficulties for motorcyclists.

Citizens stuck in traffic jams, including young men and women, continued to curse the leaders and the police.

According to Ikram Chaudhry, Rawalpindi has become a city of containers, and the leaders must open the roads and defend the freedom of the citizens. Chaudhry Imran pointed out that the presence of barricades everywhere gives the impression that a foreign country has attacked. The leaders should focus on solving public difficulties instead of panicking, he suggested.