December 04, 2007	Tuesday	Ziqa'ad 23, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Dec 3: The diplomatic community and foreigners are getting tired of the restrictions on their movement outside the federal capital.

Amidst beefed up security, almost all the embassies functioning in Islamabad have directed their staffers, particularly of foreign origin, not to leave the city due to security fears.

Foreigners, particularly those living here with their families and who had planned trips to other parts of the country before the arrival of winter, are finding the situation rather suffocating or simply boring.

The National Day of Romania, which was held on Saturday night in a local hotel, provided an opportunity to scores of employees of various embassies and diplomats, especially the ones hailing from the G-8 group of developed countries, to give vent to their pent-up feelings created by security concerns and restrictions on their movement.

While an official of Saudi embassy hoped that more good times (Khair) awaited Pakistan, the gossip about curbs on media, security fears and December 16 (the date on which Musharraf has hinted towards lifting emergency) was too strong in the background that it almost took over the somewhat gala refreshment-cum-dinner arranged by Romanian Charge d’Affaires Bogdan Marius Trifu and Military Attache Lt-Col Sorin Florea.

“We had planned trips to Galiyat, Murree and Lahore just before the weather could get chilly, but we were not allowed to do so,” an official of the German embassy said while talking to Dawn.

She said our movement was curtailed soon after the situation worsened in the tourists’ heaven - Swat - due to creeping Talibanisation. But, after the imposition of emergency, it seemed that every other part of Pakistan, except the capital, was now out of bounds for the foreigners.

“We have been asked to take extra care while moving even inside the capital, a city that is too lacklustre to bring smile to your face or relieve you of the loads of file work,” said another diplomat while supplementing the comment of the German official.