ISLAMABAD: Routine life returned to the twin cities after remaining barricaded for four days, following a late night operation carried out by the law enforcers against the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) protesters on Tuesday.

The next morning the Capital Development Authority (CDA) launched the cleanliness operation on Jinnah Avenue and removed waste and garbage.

Containers were also removed from various roads, including Jinnah Avenue, Faisal Avenue, Islamabad Expressway and Srinagar Highway. Besides, the mud that had been dumped on both sides of the containers was also swept away to clear the roads for traffic.

Besides, metro bus service also resumed it operations in Islamabad which had been suspended due to the protests.

Containers have been removed; metro bus service resumes operation

The government also ordered opening of educational institutions on Thursday (today) after a gap of three days.

It may be mentioned here that exams, including mid terms, are being conducted in majority of the schools.

Business centres and offices located in areas around Jinnah Avenue have also opened while employees who had been unable to reach their workplaces due to the blockades rejoined their respective offices.

Supplies of edibles, like grocery items as well as dairy and poultry products, resumed after remaining affected due to the blockades.

Rawalpindi

Life was back to normal in Rawalpindi as people went about their normal business, which had been affected due to the protest in neighbouring Islamabad.

Educational institutions will also open on Thursday after remaining closed for three days.

Following PTI’s march to D-Chowk in Islamabad, a massive security clampdown was put in place in the garrison city with 6,000 police deployed and the city blocked at 70 points. As many as 65 police checkpoints had also be set up.

In the downtown city areas, the main markets remained closed while roads were blocked with containers and barbed wires to prevent protesters from gathering on Murree Road following imposition of Section 144.

As part of tightened security, the road leading to Central Jail Adiala was completely blocked with freight containers and barbed wires while heavy contingents of police were deployed at the checkpoints.

After the clean-up operation in Islamabad on Tuesday night, the police and district administration started clearing the roads, removing containers and trucks to allow free movement of people.

However, business activities in the main markets of the city remained dull on Wednesday as vehicular traffic was also thin. Though the bus terminals in the city opened and inter-city buses began to ply, the number of local commuters using public transport remained low.

According to the city traders, almost one week of business has been lost due to the ongoing protests and blockade of the city. Daily wage workers were the most affected who had already been facing problems in making both ends meet.

On the other hand, parents and students were equally worried due to the closure of educational institutions. Several people who had to flights to catch were unable to reach the airports due to the road blocks.

Gujar Khan

Life returned to normalcy in Jhelum, Pind Dadan Khan, Sohawa and Gujar Khan as road blockades on G.T. Road were removed following a successful operation against the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) sit-in on Tuesday night.

According to details, G.T. Road connecting Lahore and Rawalpindi was blocked with containers and trucks at multiple points with heavy deployment of police, including three bridges over the River Jhelum, the Pind Mattey Khan bridge near Sohawa, and the Bhai Khan bridge near Gujar Khan, making the travel of commuters impossible.

— Hamid Asghar in Gujar Khan also contributed to this story

Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2024