04 June 2004	Friday	15 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

PESHAWAR, June 3: Military police have barricaded the cantonment area of the city and stopped civilians' vehicles to pass through its busy roads without a special sticker.

On Wednesday, a barricade was erected at an intersection near Khalid bin Waleed Park and civilians' vehicles were not allowed to pass through The Mall in the cantonment area towards the city.

"We have been asked not to allow civilians' vehicles on The Mall,"a military police official told Dawn. He was diverting traffic from The Mall towards the Green Hall, creating traffic jam and anguish among the commuters.

He said only government and army vehicles could pass through The Mall and civilians must fill a form and get a sticker from the military police for movement in the cantonment area. He was unable to explain the reason for the restrictions.

Another official said civilian commuters would be given a week to get the stickers from the MP station headquarters, after which there would beno leniency. The MP also erected a barricade at an intersection near the Pakistan Telecommunication Company customer services centre for stopping civilian vehicles from entering the cantonment area from the city.

Military police personnel were seen checking the boot of every civilian vehicle and diverting traffic towards the Sunehri Masjid Road. About two weeks ago, the MP erected barricade on the University Road near Hayat Avenue and started checking every vehicle, affecting the traffic flow.

Many barricades have been arrested on all the roads leading towards the cantonment area from the Khyber Road. Barricades on the road of air force headquarters have created problems for people who drop their children at three educational institutes there.