LAHORE: Joint sit-ins and protests by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Pakistan Awami Tehreek and Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen at various entry/exit points hit the routine business in the city on Sunday.

Since the protesters forcibly blocked the entry/exit points at Thokar Niaz Baig, Ferozepur Road and Shahdara, the entire traffic seeking entrance into the city went out of gear forcing people, mainly traveling in public transport, to enter the provincial metropolis on foot.

The police were seen requesting the protesters, who blocked the thoroughfares by burning used tyres, to let the traffic enter the city, but they refused to do so.

The situation at the Thokar was the worst as PTI/PAT/MWM workers even blocked the flyover there, causing suspension of the traffic. Although they vacated the flyover after sometime, they didn’t leave the place.

“I have come here to pick some of my relatives after they have left the bus at the entry point due to road blockade. Now they (my relatives) are entering the city on foot as I cannot reach there to pick them,” said Kashif, a motorist.

Altaf, a passenger, said he had also entered the city when a foreign company bus dropped him on the road near the entry point after it stuck in a long queue of vehicles.

Similar was the situation at entry/exit points at Shahdara and Ferozepur Road.

The Punjab Metro Bus Authority also suspended the bus operation twice on the 27-km long route from Gajjumata to Shahdara after the protesters blocked the Lahore-Kasur Road.

The suspension of metro bus added miseries to those using public transport on the route as they were seen seeking lift from motorists and bikers.

Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2014