KARACHI, Sept 16: Citizens suffered another day of traffic chaos on Thursday owing to closure of certain thoroughfares in the city for security reasons, in connection with the international defence exhibition - IDEAS 2004.

Massive traffic congestions at different places in the city caused by the mismanagement of law enforcers proved no less than a nightmare for motorists and commuters. This situation deteriorated when Shaukat Aziz paid his first visit as prime minister to the city.

His movement in the commercial district of the city further disturbed traffic flow on Dr Ziauddin Ahmed Road and I I Chundrigar Road, as the cross section was clogged. Commuters in the public transport were heard complaining that the Karachiites had been taken for a ride by every ruler, but under the present government the people were made to suffer for hours due to the VVIP movement in the city.

As the defence show was not open for the public, then why it was organized in the heart of the city, as it could have easily been arranged at some cantonment location, where foreign dignitaries and delegations could get more free access and movement, a motorist said.

This could have saved the people from miseries they had to suffer due to closure of roads for traffic and the agony felt by the patients being rushed to hospitals in ambulances, which often got trapped in the traffic jams, he added.

Another commuter quipped that if our VVIPs felt so insecure, why they took trouble to travel on roads. They could easily call meetings for consultation, or deliver massages through the media.

A worker of a factory, who appeared disturbed, lashed out at the politicians for their apathy to the issues directly concerning the people like traffic jams, rising prices, increasing unemployment, mismanagement in the KESC, KWSB, etc.

A student said that the arrangements made for the IDEAS-2004 and VVIP movement had proved counter productive for the law enforcers. Earlier, on the arrival of the prime minister, one of the main arteries, Sharea Faisal, was closed for traffic, due to which the traffic was jammed at Drigh Road. Its impact was felt down to Rashid Minhas Road up to NIPA intersection.

The traffic jams were also witnessed at Jail Chowrangi and New M.A. Jinnah Road, where police were seen forcing shopkeepers to close their shops. The people were forced to use M.A. Jinnah Road, where the traffic volume had increased manifold.

All these road closures were apart from those which were announced by the traffic police including Club Road, Fatima Jinnah Road, a part of Abdullah Haroon Road, Sir Shah Suleman Road, and a part of the University Road.

The traffic rush was also witnessed on Nishter Road and Nawab Siddique Alikhan Road in Nazimabad. Due to the permanent closure of the Club Road and the closure of Aiwan-i-Saddar Road, the access to M.T. Khan road was made impossible.

From evening till midnight, the closure of Dr Ziauddin Ahmed Road had increased miseries of motorists and commuters. The traffic jams were also witnessed on the Rafiqui Shaheed Road, where major tertiary care units were located. It was hard for ambulances to find way to hospitals to shift patients. Many people had to miss their flights and trains due to closure of Sharea Faisal.