KARACHI, Jan 9: The road in front of the Chief Minister’s House has been closed to public transport - buses, minibuses, coaches, rickshaws and taxis. There is no hindrance to the whizzing past by Pajeroes, Corollas, Hiluxes, Land Cruisers. The rulers feel threatened by the people who returned them to the august houses, not by the few who contested elections against them, or were qualified to do so, or are otherwise their equals.

Buses and minibuses are diverted well away from the Chief Minister’s House into a narrow street opening near the PIDC bridge. The lane shrinks further as cars and motorcycles are heavily parked on either side. During morning and evening peak rush hours, the lane gets choked with vehicles trying to get out of the street ahead of the others. This scramble triggers a chain reaction of traffic jams on the adjoining roads. People desperate to reach their workplaces or back home can just curse their leaders, or their own fate.

Aiwan-i-Saddar Road is already closed to public vehicles, including rickshaws and taxis. Club Road is a no-go area for the socalled heavy vehicles. So is part of Abdullah Haroon Road. Fatima Jinnah Road is often closed to public transport for “security reasons.”

It is not only the present government that is to blame for this anti-people act. Every time there is an elected government in place, the road in front of the Chief Minister House (Dr Ziauddin Ahmed Road) is closed to public vehicles. Besides for people living in Defence, Clifton and adjoining localities, this road is an important link for those commuting to Boulton Market, Merewether Tower and port areas from Korangi and Landhi areas.

When the People’s Party came to power in 1988, the first manifestation of its being at the helm was seen by these commuters in the shape of overhead concrete beams at the mouth of Sunset Boulevard, effectively barring buses and minibuses from passing through Defence.

Public representatives across the country create more problems for their constituents than they solve. It is ironic that even their movement on the roads becomes a sources of big trouble for the people they are elected by.

Karachiites should be prepared to suffer numerous disruptions on the roads as there is a large cabinet in Sindh, topped by the governor and the chief minister. Besides, there would be frequent flyings-in by members of the federal cabinet headed by the prime minister, and the president being called by his duty to visit the city off and on.

Only those who travel by buses can imagine the plight of those who are short of time to reach their workplaces or those exhausted after a hard day’s work and want to be with their families.

“It’s unfortunate that elected representatives cause harm to the nation and damage to its institutions, knowingly or otherwise,” remarked a exasperated and apparently well-educated passenger of the Rambo coach, which normally passes on the road, on Thursday.

The other minibuses and minicoaches on the route include Ilyas Coach, Mahfooz Coach, and F-15 and D-3 route minibuses, ferrying thousands of commuters across the city.—Naseer Ahmad