RAWALPINDI: The second day of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) demonstrations in Rawalpindi to protest the murder attempt on party chief Imran Khan spelled misery for the citizens of twin cities, as roads remained blocked in multiple locations, bringing life and businesses in the garrison city to a grinding halt.

The supporters of PTI blocked Gulzar-i-Quaid Road at about 12:20 pm, Cricket Stadium Road, Pirwadhai Chowk, Shamasabad, and Sarai Kala in Taxila, disrupting traffic and forcing commuters to cover their journey on foot.

The protesters also blocked Soan Bridge for traffic and traffic was being diverted to alternative routes.

A press release issued by the City Traffic Police around noon said that the Old Airport Road has been blocked by protesters on both tracks. Due to the blockade, the traffic has been diverted to alternative routes.

It said that Murree Road near Iqbal Park on both sides was blocked by protesters, while Pirwadhai Mor towards IJP road was also blocked. The traffic police said that the GT Road near Margalla has been blocked by protesters, while Sarai Kala Chowk was also blocked.

Police act as helpless bystanders as residents complain of hours-long traffic jams

These diversions resulted in traffic jams across the city.

Zeeshan, a resident of Kallar Syedan told Dawn that his cousin was supposed to fly out of Pakistan on Monday but due to roadblocks he had to pay a fare of Rs1,500 from Golra Mor to reach Islamabad International Airport for his flight.

Similarly, thousands of residents, including schoolchildren, traders, patients, and vendors, have been facing hardships since the protests started on Monday. As a result of these demos, families, children, and senior citizens remained stuck in traffic jams for hours on both days.

In some instances, the PTI protesters did not even allow the ambulances blaring sirens to pass through. Even media persons were harassed by the protesters for showing problems faced by the public due to blockades by the PTI supporters.

“What is my fault, when I am not being allowed to take my sick mother to a hospital for an operation,” said a resident of Mansehra, who was stuck in Pirwadhai due to roadblocks.

PTI leaders, including Fayyazul Hassan Chohan, Sheikh Rashid Shafique, and Raja Rashid Hafeez along with a few supporters staged a demo at Shamasabad by blocking Murree Road for traffic. The protestors chanted slogans against PM Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and other PDM leaders.

Police helpless

The traffic and Rawalpindi police also failed to provide relief to the stranded citizens, as they helplessly stood by. The City Traffic Police helpline was flooded with public calls on Tuesday seeking help for clearance of the roads, but they fell on deaf ears.

In a video, an elderly woman criticising the PTI supporters for blocking roads said: “Our country was made for these politicians who have made our lives miserable. I reached here after three hours of struggle.” The elderly woman expressed resentment while standing near the PTI camp in Shamsabad.

Even though the Pindi administration had announced public holidays on Nov 8 and 9 in the tehsil in the anticipation of protests, some institutions remained open and parents of the school children were in a fix on whether to send their children to schools or not. An expatriate family who had recently shifted to Pakistan from Saudi Arabia was considering going back as they felt that their children were not safe while going to school due to such circumstances.

Similarly, traders also complained of business losses due to the protests and demanded the government compensate the business community and announce holidays for the traders if it could not handle protests which were “a daily occurrence”. The business community further expressed resentments over the law and order situation in the twin cities and asked the police and disttrict administration to take action against the protestors.

Till sunset, the blockade of roads by PTI supporters was continuing and there was no let-up in hardships being faced by the public. — Aamir Yasin also contributed to the story

Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2022