ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI: A protest by religious parties continued to paralyse the twin cities for the second consecutive day, even as the interior minister declared that the government had rejected their demands.

Consequently, no one from either of the two city administrations made any attempt to contact the protesters or negotiate with them.

Members of the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Ya Rasul Allah remained camped out at the Faizabad Interchange on Thursday, blocking both Murree Road and Islamabad Expressway – the two major arteries that connect the two cities, as well linking the urban and rural areas of the capital.

On Thursday morning, Regional Police Officer (RPO) Wisal Fakhar Sultan Raja, City Police Officer (CPO) Israr Ahmed Abbasi and City Traffic Officer (CTO) Shahid Yousaf tried to approach the sit-in participants on Murree Road.

Minister wants to avoid use of force; sit-in continues to inconvenience commuters in twin cities

However, the demonstrators became riled up by their presence and began shouting slogans against them, forcing them to retreat to avoid an untoward situation.

After this, no effort was made by the Punjab government or the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration to negotiate with the leaders of the sit-in.

“The capital’s police and administration remained busy with security for the Chehlum processions in the capital,” police officials told Dawn.

They said that protesters had made no attempt to breach the capital, adding that the organisers of the sit-in may be approached for talks today (Friday).

Demonstrators have already announced their intention to hold a Friday prayer congregation at Faizabad.

On Thursday, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal also made it clear that although the government did not want to use force against the demonstrators, their demands had been rejected.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event held in connection with Iqbal Day, he said that negotiations were still underway with the religious parties who were calling for the resignation of a federal minister.

“In case negotiations fail, we will take appropriate action against the protesters. However, I am hopeful that we will soon find a solution.”

Mr Iqbal maintained that Law Minister Zahid Hamid had not said or done anything that merited his resignation.

“If 150 people stand on a road and start demanding my resignation, do they think I will resign?” he asked, rhetorically.

Traffic mess

The continuing sit-in has made life miserable for those who commute between the twin cities, and on Thursday, most roads of the capital remained blocked, either due to the sit-in, or due to traffic congestion.

Since TV channels are not covering the protest by religious groups, most people remained unaware of the actual situation and turned to social media for updates, which were not always reliable.

As a result of the uncertainty, many parents did not send their children to school, while a large number of professionals did not turn up to work either.

The suspension of the metro bus service from Rawalpindi to I-9 Islamabad also added fuel to the fire, inconveniencing commuters heading to work or school in the capital.

On Golra Mor, Pirwadhai Mor, The Mall, Murree Road, Raja Bazaar and Rawal Road, chaotic traffic brought routine life to a halt, resulting in long queues of vehicles on slip roads.

The supply of goods in Raja Bazaar’s main markets was also halted as trucks had to wait until late at night to enter the city; visitors to the markets also decreased, Rawalpindi Traders Association President Sharjeel Mir said. In downtown Rawalpindi, taxis and rickshaws refused passengers to avoid the traffic.

One of the worst scenes was early morning at Golra Mor and Pirwadhai Mor, as many commuters tried to enter the city from that routes, and queues of vehicles were seen on Peshawar Road and The Mall.

Residents of Chaklala Scheme III, Media Town, Bahria Town and the Defence Housing Authority turned to Airport Road and Rawal Road; during school hours, traffic stalled near the Pakistan Air Force Cinema and Colony, after security blocks placed in the middle of Rawal Road reduced the three lane road into a single lane.

At District Courts Square, commuters complained that a VIP route on The Mall had caused problems in the morning and at 2pm. Nazir Ahmed said the route was “routine from Chaklala Garrison to The Mall” and traffic was stopped for it several times.

City Traffic Police (CTO) Shahid Yousaf said the main reason for the chaotic traffic was the sit-in at Faizabad, but added that the traffic police was working to manage the situation.

NCHR notice

Also on Sunday, the National Commission on Human Rights (NCHR) took suo motu notice of the sit-in, which had led to the death of a child who was not able to reach the hospital in time.

According to an official statement, Chairman retired Justice Ali Nawaz Chowhan has taken notice of the poor planning by the city administration that led to the forced shutdown of the twin cities.

A notice has been served to the interior secretary, inspector general of Islamabad police, Islamabad chief commissioner and the Rawalpindi district chief commissioner. The case is fixed for hearing on Nov 22.

Private schools closed

Private Schools Association Information Secretary Abdul Waheed has said that most private schools will be closed on Friday, particularly those located in H sectors.

Several of the capital’s elite private schools represented by the association, including Convent Islamabad campus, Super Nova, Roots, International and AIMS will be closed on Friday.

Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority Chairman Hasnat Ahmed Qureshi, who is also acting chairman of the Federal Directorate of Education said that there is no official holiday, and added that all government-run schools will be open on Friday.

Published in Dawn, November 10th, 2017