PESHAWAR, April 11: The agencies responsible for the security of President Pervez Musharraf turned a large part of the city into “no-go area” here on Friday morning.

The area sandwiched between Khyber Road and Sher Shah Suri Road, including The Mall, where most of offices are located, were closed to all sorts of traffic.

The police force manning all entry points on roads passing through the cantonment area, where the president was engaged with military officers, not allowing anybody to tread and reach their workplaces.

“Rickshaws are not allowed to enter the premises,” said traffic inspector Shakirullah, on Artillery Road.

An unprecedented traffic jam was witnessed here in other parts of the city too as the police had diverted heavy vehicles to side lanes passing through the slum areas.

Traffic on all main roads remained suspended for hours causing hardships to commuters and pedestrians.

Khyber Road leading towards the airport was closed and army personnel were posted at various points.

The district police deployed additional force in the city. “The routine traffic flow was diverted to alternative routes to ease the congestion,” said a police official. Owing to the president’s visit, vehicular traffic was moving in a haphazard manner on the Grand Trunk Road, Bacha Khan Chowk, Khyber Bazaar and Kohat Road.

Busy localities like Hashtnagri, Speen Jumat Road, Kohat Gate area, BISE Peshawar, General Bus Stand, Shouba Bazaar, Kabuli, Bacha Khan Chowk, Peshawar Stadium, Chowk Yadgar, Rehman Baba and Ramdas remained blocked for several hours.