ISLAMABAD, June 7: People, who had to pass through the Constitution Avenue after 2pm on Saturday, ended up frustrated because of strict security put in place prior to the budget speech of the finance minister in the National Assembly.

It was a multi-tier security arrangement plan which included laying of barbed wires and setting up of pickets at different intersections leading to Parliament House. The movement of the general public as well as government officials working in different offices located on the Constitution Avenue was completely restricted.

People expressed their dismay after being told by police officials that they could not travel on the Constitution Avenue and Jinnah Avenue.

“It seems as if the Parliament House has itself been put under siege by the government,” observed a passer-by, who had to disembark from a public transport vehicle due to the road blockade.

It was indeed hard for the people, including government employees, to believe because to them there seemed to be no reason of any security concern when the budget was being presented in the National Assembly.

“Sometimes we have to resort to such tactics,” Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said when his attention was drawn towards the security measures.

Even Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali himself witnessed the traffic jam caused due to road blockade when his motorcade passed from the intersection near the Radio Pakistan Islamabad.