RAWALPINDI: The Real Estate Association on Thursday took out a rally against the levy of taxes on the sale and purchase of properties, triggering traffic gridlocks in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Led by association president Chaudhry Farukh Amir, the rally started from DHA and was scheduled to end at the National Press Club in Islamabad. However, the police and other law enforcement agencies stopped the rally first at Koral Chowk and then near Khanna bridge. As a result, the participants staged a sit-in at Shakrial on Islamabad Expressway, leading to the traffic mess on the busy artery and almost all other roads.

The traffic police in Islamabad and Rawalpindi were nowhere to be seen, leaving tens of thousands of motorists stuck on different roads for hours.

The areas affected by the traffic gridlocks included Rawat, DHA, Bahria Town, Model Town Humak, Car Stop, Soan Bus Terminal, Ayub Park, Katcheri, Rashid Minhas Road, Katcheri, Morgah Mor, Murree Road, Mareer, Saddar, Kashmir Road, Peshawar Road, I.J. Principal Road, Islamabad Expressway, Koral, Khanna Bridge, Iqbal Town, Dhoke Kala Khan and Faizabad.

Israr Raja, a motorist, said he remained stuck in the traffic jam for an hour. He said the government should pay heeds towards the problems of road users.

Chaudhry Farukh Amir, the president of the association, said they were holding a peaceful rally against the government’s decision to impose new taxes on the sale and purchase of properties. He said they planned to go to the National Press Club and hold a press conference but the police did not allow them to enter the federal capital.

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2016