GUJRAT: The local authorities have completely sealed all the entry and exit points of the district as the road links to Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot and other neighbouring towns of Gujrat have been plugged with the containers. Measures have been taken to stop the workers and convoys of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) from reaching Islamabad from the GT Road on Nov 24.

Police also conducted raids at the houses and offices of former PTI lawmakers, ticket holders and party officials on Saturday; however, no arrest was reported as sources in the PTI said most of the active workers had either gone underground or reached in the close vicinity of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

The prices of vegetables and fruits have started soaring in the markets due to disruption in the supply chain to the markets for the second consecutive day as the roads are closed since Friday morning. The rate of potato, Tomato, onion and other such commodities have been increased by 50 to 100pc in the retail markets where the previous rate of Rs100 per kg tomato has reached Rs200 to Rs250. Same is the case with the rates of different fruits and vegetables.

Heavy containers have also been put right in the centre of at least three bridges over Jhelum river, disconnecting the road link between Sara-i-Alamgir and Jhelum city. Moreover, the Mangla Dam bridge, connecting Mirpur with GT Road at Dina, as well as the roads linking Bhimber and Mirpur with Sara-i-Alamgir have been cut off whereas all roads linking Mandi Bahauddin to Kharian and Sara-i-Alamgir towns were also closed.

Some commuters traveling towards Rawalpindi along with a dead body were struck at the Jhelum river bridge; however, they later crossed the river through a sidewalk along the railway bridge by foot while carrying the body on a stretcher to first reach Jhelum to proceed further.

Contingents of police remained deployed at the bridges and other pickets erected across the district to stop the PTI March on Islamabad. The authorities have also parked heavy trailers at the toll plazas in Sara-i-Alamgir and some tyres of these vehicles had been removed so that these could not be moved away.

Published in Dawn, November 24th, 2024