THE recent attempt at political gimmickry by the main opposition party could not provide what it was looking for, but did cause misery to the residents of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. A man suffering from abdominal pain died in an ambulance because he was unable to reach the hospital due to road closures.

A woman was expecting after 17 years of marriage. The woman and her unborn child lost their lives due to traffic jams because of the ‘protest’. A son could not see his father’s face one last time after he passed away during the protest.

These protests (read: punishment) have taken us back to ancient times when there used to be no proper transportation, medical services and the internet. Those giving calls for protests right, left and centre should also think of people’s rights.

Warda Younas
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, December 23rd, 2024