ON Aug 16 at about 7.20pm, coming from Islamabad, I took a left turn at Faizabad interchange on Murree Road to get onto the Islamabad Expressway. The traffic was stopped at the turn.

I assumed that the traffic was being regulated by police due to rush on the expressway, but after waiting for about 10-15 minutes, I got out of the car and proceeded to find out what was happening. The military personnel standing there informed that a ‘route’ had been imposed. After about five further minutes, a cavalcade passed and thereafter we were allowed to proceed.

However, the predicament did not end there. A little ahead, as I tried to approach Khanna Pul, there was the same chaotic traffic situation, as that spot had also been blocked from all sides. That was seriously frustrating.

The need for security is well understood, but there should be some consideration about reducing the duration for which such closures are imposed.

What is the point of blocking the roads 15-20 minutes before a motorcade is supposed to pass a certain area?

Name withheld on request
Rawalpindi

Published in Dawn, August 23rd, 2021