GUJRAT: Local administration and police on Wednesday got closed the van-bus stands, shopping malls, filling stations, banks etc located here along the main GT Road to ensure fool-proof security of the PML-N rally from Islamabad that was scheduled to touch the town on its way to Lahore.

The shutters of shops and offices on the highway were also found closed in various other towns on the GT Road, including Jhelum, Sohawa, Dina, Sara-i-Alamgir, Kharian and Lalamusa.

The police got erected tents in front of shops and offices along the road, asking the bank managers to better keep their branches shut on Thursday for security reasons.

Similarly, parking of all kinds of vehicles along both sides of the national highway has also been prohibited till the Nawaz Sharif’s cavalcade crossed the towns.

The police vehicles continued to patrol the road through out the day, while those owning buildings on both sides of the GT Road have been asked by police to ensure security of the rooftops so that these premises could not be used by anti-state elements for terrorism.

Local traders and political circles have expressed their reservations over the closure of businesses, saying such measures would only annoy the people.

A senior political worker of the PML-N said that such moves should have been avoided because closure of businesses and banks would force people to stay home instead of joining the rally.

Published in Dawn, August 10th, 2017