RAWALPINDI: It was a war-like situation in the heart of the garrison city with people praying for and chanting slogans in favour of the Army.

Militants dressed in Pakistan Army uniform may have been succeeded in dodging the security personnel near the GHQ; however, the tragic incident gave a lesson to the people to understand the country's long war against militancy and stand up and join the fight against the enemies.

When the terrorists struck at about 11:45am, commercial activity in the market and traffic on roads were as usual with offices and public schools opened though private educational institutions remain closed on Saturdays.

As soon as the shootout broke out near the Army Hockey Stadium, security agencies blocked the Mall from Pearl Continental Hotel intersection to the State Life building. The closing of the key road resulted in immense traffic congestions in Saddar Bazaar, Westridge, Adiala and R. A. Bazaar.

The sudden road blockades not only perturbed the commuters but also created panic among schoolchildren and their parents.

The closure of the main artery also caused massive traffic jams in different parts of the city with people rushing to schools to pick their children and hapless traffic wardens trying to control the terror-stricken motorists.

The severe aftershocks were faced by schoolchildren, as the security forces asked the school and college administrations not to let the students come out of their institutions.

Both the F.G. Sir Syed schools for boys and girls were locked from outside as terror-stricken children remained confined to their classrooms.

Traffic wardens tried hard to ease the traffic in the cantonment area as many commuters being ignorant of what was going on outside the GHQ kept on arguing with the traffic personnel for blocking the traffic. Mohammad Awais, a young man, was seen arguing with a traffic warden near Flashman’s Hotel desperate to reach Sir Syed Girls School to pick his younger sister.

Later in the evening, the areas around the GHQ and Saddar Bazaar wore a deserted look as the usual weekend hustle and bustle was missing and only security vehicles and ambulances were seen moving on the Mall Road.

The conflicting reports about the killing, capturing of the attackers or their escape kept the citizens away from the markets in the evening.

The residents of Rawalpindi have been victims of terror as the garrison city houses many important installations that have been targeted by militants. However, the latest incident has roused their patriotism instead of further terrorising them.

‘Attack on the GHQ is like attack on Pakistan. I will never forget the drama outside the military headquarters as it convinced me to understand the real enemy of Pakistan,’ said Zafar Qadri, the General Secretary of Anjuman-i-Tajiran Rawalpindi Sadder, who closely watched the shootout.

Talking to Dawn, Mr Qadri said he had seen people in the streets praying for the success of the Army, adding the terror attack aroused sympathies and support for the Army in the ongoing military operation against militants.

‘Every Pakistani should understand that militants are the enemies of our homeland and are hell-bent on killing innocent people and trying to break our country into pieces,’ he added.

‘The general public should be called to fight against militants. We are with the Pakistan Army and will fight side by side with our armed forces,’ Gul Nawab, who had come to Rawalpindi Sadder, commented, adding enemies of the country were on the run.