RAWALPINDI: With the announcement by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) to ‘celebrate’ completion of one month of its sit-in on Saturday, the government has started blocking entry points to the twin cities.

For motorists, Friday was another tough day as the garrison city witnessed traffic gridlocks. The local administration and police impounded more containers to block roads leading to Islamabad from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Lahore.

Only one lane of Murree Road from Shamsabad to Faizabad was opened due to which traffic remained jammed there. The road was also blocked at Faizabad on Friday night. Besides, Marrir Chowk, Sir Syed Chowk, Gawalmandi Chowk, College Road, Tipu Road, Rawal Road, Asghar Mall Road, 5th Road and Khanna Road witnessed traffic jams.

“In routine, travel time from Chandni Chowk to my shop at Faizabad is 15 minutes. But on Friday it took two hours to reach the shop due to the congested traffic caused by road closures,” said Raja Mehmood.

Following PTI’s announcement it will mark one month of its sit-in, entry points into capital were blocked again

Mohammad Raza, who was going to his house at I-9/1, said he had to go to Raja Bazaar via Khayaban-i-Sir Syed and from there take slip roads to re-enter his locality.

Bilal Shah, a resident of Iqbal Road, said PTI and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) should end their sit-ins and allow citizens to move freely.

“If the two parties have the constitutional right to hold protests even in Red Zone, why are the citizens not allowed to move freely in their city,” he asked.

He said people required peace of mind. Half of the year they remained confined to their houses due to the wave of terrorism and closure of roads because of the sit-ins,” said Ashar Ali, a resident of Mohanpura.

An official of the City District Government Rawalpindi (CDGR) told Dawn that the provincial government had directed them to ensure thin attendance at the sit-ins.

“The Punjab government has expressed the fear that more people would attend the Saturday night musical show of the PTI, giving an opportunity to the party to use it as a political show,” he said.

The interior ministry, he added, had directed the Islamabad administration to remove stallholders from the Red Zone.

“It will not launch any direct action against stallholders but after they leave the venue the police will arrest them,” he said.

PTI district president Arif Abbasi said: “We are working for the rights of the people and the government wanted to stop people to attend the PTI sit-in.”

He claimed that the government had arrested more than 900 PTI workers in Islamabad. However, he said Rawalpindi police had not arrested any PTI worker. He said some office-bearers of the party’s Jhelum chapter and other areas of Rawalpindi division were arrested from hotels in Islamabad.

PML-N city president Sardar Naseem said people and traders were against the sit-ins, adding the political parties should instead work for the flood-affected people.

He said the government had closed roads for the security of citizens as there was threat of terrorism.

A police official said sealing of entry points and the ban on pillion riding are aimed at checking supporters of the PTI.

Hundreds of people were detained for violating ban on pillion riding and their bikes were also impounded.

“It looks as if the government has decided to clear Islamabad from the participants of the sit-ins during the next 24 hours,” another police official said, adding the Rawalpindi police had been ordered to remain on standby.

Jhelum Road leading towards Rawalpindi was blocked with containers at Soan Bridge. However, the outgoing traffic was allowed through one lane which caused long queues.

Entry into city through Dhoke Hassu, Chak Madad and Gulzar-i-Quaid was also closed. Dumpers were parked on link roads to Islamabad Expressway. Strict checking of vehicles entering Islamabad was also being carried out by the police.

Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2014