RAWALPINDI: Tension in Red Zone hardly disturbed the hustle and bustle of the garrison city on Monday.

The siege of Prime Minister House, Pakistan Secretariat and the storming of the PTV building by the protesters were, however, centre of discussion in the city.

Government and corporate offices, courts and markets opened as per routine and heavy traffic clogged roads as usual.

Though some roads connecting Rawalpindi and Islamabad were still closed, local transport including Suzukis and wagons witnessed usual passengers.

Government and corporate offices open as per routine

A senior official of the local administration told Dawn that no new container had been placed at the entry points of the city. Policemen at the pickets have been asked to remain vigilant to any activity by miscreants, he added.

“I came to know about the invasion of PTV and Prime Minister’s House through the electronic media. I was expecting that the tension in Islamabad would affect life here but when I came to the market I found everything normal,” said Imran Raja, a shopper at Narankari Bazaar.

He said people were preoccupied with their household chores and had no time to participate in the sit-ins in Red Zone. “Our main concern is price hike and loadshedding,” he added.

Sharjeel Mir, the president of the traders association, said business activities were normal and workers were busy in their work.

“Traders are against the protests and rallies whether they are from the opposition or the ruling parties as they affect their business. We have already asked the government to designate a space for these activities so they do not disturb the routine business in the markets,” he said.

PTI workers did not stage protest on Monday while the local leaders of the party remained in the city and avoided going to the Red Zone to participate in the sit-in. They said the police did not allow them to enter the area.

“The police stopped the PTI activists from entering the Red Zone. I too tried to participate in the sit-in in the morning but could not make it to the venue and returned and held a meeting in which we decided a new strategy for the protests,” said PTI MPA and district president Arif Abbasi while talking to Dawn.

He admitted that mostly local leaders, including MPAs, did not attend the sit-in regularly. “I also did not see most of them. The local leaders are against Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and they avoided attending the sit-in in his presence,” he said.

Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2014