RAWALPINDI, Nov 20: After wearing a deserted look for almost four days in the wake of the unfortunate tragedy on Friday, hustle and bustle returned to the Rawalpindi on Wednesday.

Though a small part of the main Raja Bazaar was still manned by police and Rangers, activities in the rest of the downtown areas was full of life.

Commercial markets including the nearby City Saddar Road, Gawalmandi, College Road and most of the shops in Raja Bazaar were full of visitors.

The roads were swamped by vehicles and footpaths were occupied by vendors, which according to the residents of Rawalpindi, is the true face of Raja Bazaar.

“This busy bazaar, which was giving a look of a battlefield just few days back, has once again sprung into action. You can hear routine noises of pressure horns and see congestion on roads,” Haji Niaz Badshah, owner of a timber stall told Dawn.

The only parking plaza near Fawwara Chowk that was closed due to curfew had a little space for parking after visitors and motorists thronged Raja Bazaar for shopping. Public transport vehicles also resumed their services to the old city.

“You see that only the third floor of the plaza has a space for parking. Raja Bazaar cannot afford to be deserted as it is the market that is visited by both rich and poor,” Mohammad Nadeem, manager of the parking plaza, said.

The adjacent Kashmiri Bazaar, known for shoes shops and other items, was swarmed with visitors and it seemed as if the Friday’s tragic incident had not happened at all in its vicinity keeping in view the smiling faces of visitors and people’s engagement in their routine works.

“Liveliness during daytime and late night public activities is the true face of the old city. It was for the first time that silence dominated the otherwise bustling part of the city. Old city of Rawalpindi is similar to Qissa Khwani Bazaar of Peshawar. Here you have to eat, play and drink,” Nasir Mir, 48, a shop owner and resident of the nearby Dhoke Ratta Amral locality.

Though the seminary students can be seen standing outside the mosque that was damaged during Friday’s violence, the roaming of hundreds of people in the commercial area and vehicular movement made them less important.

“Friday’s tragedy was no doubt a shocking event but it does not mean that the city has become a no-go area. This populous city cannot afford to remain under curfew like situation. We have to move ahead and learn lesson from such incidents,” Jawad Naqvi, a private school teacher asserted.