ISLAMABAD, Aug 16: People from various walks of life have accused the local administration of showing slackness in dealing with the huge volume of traffic and massive use of firecrackers on the Independence Day.

Hundreds and thousands of people, young and old alike, remained stuck in a bumper-to-bumper traffic jam that clogged all the major city roads till late night.

The Capital is witness to huge volumes of traffic on August 14 each year, when people throng the roads to view illuminated public buildings and enjoy the festive atmosphere.

However, despite the past experience, the city police failed to come up with a plan to manage the traffic.

“The city police did not announce any traffic route for August 14,” said Ashraf Qadir, a government official, “we have been stuck in this traffic mess for the past three hours.”

The traffic officials posted at various points when asked as to why they had closed various intersections to traffic, simply said: “We have been directed by the SSP to control traffic.”

However, police officials conceded that their only aim was to keep the traffic moving. To achieve this end, traffic sergeants on various intersections were aimlessly diverting traffic on empty roads, leading to traffic jams on all major roads.

To add to the problems of people, thousands of unruly youngsters kept on throwing firecrackers at passersby. Women and girls were the main target.

Section 144, imposed by the Islamabad administration to ban the sale, purchase and use of firecrackers was violated all over the city right under the nose of administration officials.

“The normally quiet Blue Area echoed with so many crackers,” said a citizen, Afshan Hameed.

“Some boys passing by our car opened the door and threw in the crackers,” said a shocked Zobia.

Police claimed to have arrested dozens of youth on charges of throwing firecrackers and recklessly riding the motorbikes.

However, the police actions were not enough to control the situation on the roads and the fire cracking incidents led to brawls and fistfights at many places.

Senior police officials on duty admitted their failure to check the use of firecrackers, saying that it was impossible to stop thousands of youngsters all over the city using them.

Heavy contingents of police deployed at many a place did little to interfere in the merry-making crowds, and forced many families to return home. Nasim Ahmad Usmani, chairman of Pakistan Qaumi Yekjehti Council, also suffered burns on his foot when a fire-cracker was thrown into his car near the Saudi-Pak Towers.

Talking to the agency, he said he had called Rescue-15 to stop the youngsters but to no avail. He termed it “utter failure of the administration”, adding, “otherwise it would have been quite a family day.” “These youngsters don’t know the meaning of sacrifice and how independence is won. Just go and ask the Palestinians or the Kashmiris the meaning,” he said.—APP