March 5, 2006	Sunday	Safar 4, 1427

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ATTOCK, March 4: The vehicular traffic from the NWFP to Punjab remains suspended for last 42 hours due to closure of all entry points on GT Road, including Attock bridge, to restrict protesters from reaching Islamabad to participate in rallies on cartoons issue and on the arrival of US President George W. Bush.

The road blockade, which caused great inconvenience to the commuters, was still in place till the filing of this report.

Earlier, the law-enforcement agencies sealed all entry points of the district, including Attock bridge, Haro bridge on GT Road, Shergarh bridge on Kohat-Pindi road and Jahrikus at Hazara-Pindi road, by setting up barricades on Thursday midnight.

However, no procession assembled at the road blockades from NWFP side during the last two days. District Police Officer Capt (retired) Malik Zafar Iqbal Awan, SP Investigation Attock Zahid Hussain Shirazi and senior officials of other law- enforcement agencies were present at Attock bridge to monitor the situation.

Sources said the GT Road blockade was prolonged to avoid nay protest gathering during the visit of US president to Islamabad after the MMA gave a call in this regard. However, it is being assumed that blockade will be removed after the departure of the US president.

Police have also set up checkposts at various points in Attock city including Teenmela More, Haji Shah, Hattian, Lawrencepur Chowk and Hazara Chowk to keep a check on the movement of local religious leaders and workers.

When contacted, the district police officer said the road blockade on GT Road would continue till further orders from higher government authorities.

It is for the third time during the last 15 days that public and vehicular movement from NWFP at Attock bridge and other entry points on GT Road has been restricted. Earlier, GT Road remained closed on February 19 and February 26 to stop religious parties’ activists and leaders from taking part in anti-cartoon rallies of MMA at Islamabad and Lahore, respectively.

ROAD CLOSURE CONDEMNED: People from all walks of life, including students, businessmen, lawyers and employees, have condemned closure of GT Road for the last two days, terming it the worst violation of human rights. They said it had not only restricted the routine movement of the public, but also disturbed everyday activities.

Meanwhile, MMA Attock district President Barkat Ali Khan said the government was committing a blunder by closing roads, arresting workers and resorting to violence against MMA supporters in the province.