RAWALPINDI: The local PML-N chapter did not have any arrangements for the rally participants who had come from other cities to express solidarity with the ousted prime minister, Nawaz Sharif.

Though the provincial government had made arrangements for Nawaz Sharif’s stay at Punjab House, the rally participants were left on their own.

The rally set off from Punjab House at 11:40am, and entered Rawalpindi around 5:30pm. From Faizabad to Waris Khan, it took another four hours. Till late in the night, the Rawalpindi administration and law enforcement agencies did not have a clue about the arrangements for participants.

A senior administration official, on condition of anonymity, said: “The participants were not allowed to stay near Civil Lines and District Courts Chowk as the area houses many sensitive installations.”

He said the PML-N did not share with them any plan regarding their stay; “we just took the necessary measures to give the rally a clear passage from Faizabad to Rawat via Murree Road”.

“Under the plan, the rally was supposed to reach Rawat in the evening,” he added.

When contacted, PML-N Rawalpindi chapter general secretary and former MNA Haji Pervaiz said Nawaz Sharif would stay at Punjab House and the workers from Rawalpindi and Islamabad would go back to their homes and join the rally in the morning.

However, he did not have a clear answer when asked where the participants from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Kashmir would stay. They would make their own arrangements, but would not stay on the main roads, Mr Pervaiz said.

Some party leaders said there were no plans to stay in Rawalpindi and the rally would continue moving.

“As far as I know, the rally will not stop for the night,” said Chaklala Cantonment Board Vice President Raja Irfan Imtiaz.

He said the party workers were charged and would continue their journey towards Lahore. However, he admitted that confusion prevailed over the plan.

Senior party leaders, including Rawalpindi Mayor Sardar Naseem and former MNA Hanif Abbasi, were not available as they were busy with the rally.

“The police had devised a flawed strategy; because of the barricades on various roads connecting with Murree Road, many people went back. The issue was taken up with Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah who then directed the police to reopen the roads,” said former MNA Malik Shakil Awan while talking to Dawn.

Interestingly, no buses were hired for the rally and most participants arrived in private cars and jeeps decorated with party flags. Youngsters were seen on the roads on motorcycles.

According to official sources, more than 30,000 people lined up from Faizabad to Marrir Chowk before Nawaz Sharif’s arrival. However, the number of the people swelled after Mr Sharif entered Rawalpindi.

According to a party source, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah and Punjab Police chief Arif Nawaz had to rush to Rawalpindi from Lahore on a helicopter after local PML-N leaders informed them that party workers were unable to join the rally due to blockade.The Punjab law minister and IGP remained in the city and observed the security arrangements before flying back to Lahore at 6pm.

Clashes between PML-N workers and police were also witnessed at Double Road, Kohati Bazaar, Shamasabad, Faizabad and Naseerabad.

Traffic jam

Traffic was a mess in the city areas due to closure of roads connecting to Murree Road. However, after criticism from political workers, Punjab Minister for Law Rana Sanaullah stepped in and directed to open the roads for the general traffic on Murree Road.

The situation was worse under the railway bridge connecting Saddar and Gawalmandi and City Saddar Road, Raja Bazaar, Ganjmandi and Banni Chowk. Motorcylists were seen trying to find alternative routes from narrow streets.

Public transport and the metro bus service did not operate, which added to the woes of commuters.

“Due to closure of Murree Road, I had to go to Islamabad via I.J. Principal Road, but I encountered traffic jams at many points,” said Matloob Ahmed, a motorist.

Ahmed Rana, another motorist, said traffic wardens cannot handle traffic during such situations.

“Most of citizens use Murree Road when they have to commute between Rawalpindi and Islamabad,” Salman Raja said.

Many patients also faced problems in reaching Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) which is located on Murree Road.

“I had to walk from Committee Chowk to BBH as I had to see a doctor,” said Muhammad Abdullah.

Muhammad Sajjad, a resident of Commercial Market, said his four-year-old son was suffering from fever and he too had to walk to the hospital.

Published in Dawn, August 10th, 2017