PESHAWAR, Nov 19: The VVIP movement caused by the visit of President Asif Zardari on Monday led to the closure of all major roads in the capital city, inconveniencing the people.
Things worsened on the city area roads, which were already closed to public transport vehicles as part of the Muharram security plan, due to the movement of the president in the city, especially to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly for address.
The people complained of being stressed out by the closure of roads.
Normally, motorists and motorcyclists entering the cantonment areas use Khyber Road or Sher Shah Suri Road. However, they had to cover long distances due to the closure of Khyber Road.
Police diverted traffic coming from Hayatabad and Karkhano areas to Bara Road but the artery remained closed due to return of Haj pilgrims.
The traffic police had announced a traffic plan that motorists coming from Jamrud Road to the city areas had to turn to Shami Road near the Army Stadium but again the exit point remained clogged at Bacha Khan Chowk.
The people coming to the cantonment area via Bara Road had to turn a long way to Kohat Road via Canal Road as the security personnel had created hurdles there due to arrival of Haj pilgrims at the airport. The step was taken for the protection of pilgrims.
The traffic from Bara Gate was diverted to the link road of Gulberg, which already had heavy traffic, especially tractors carrying construction materials.
One lane of GT Road was closed for motorists, while the other was used by motorists and motorcyclists from both sides.
The road leading to Lady Reading Hospital remained congested the entire day. The drivers of ambulances struggled to the reach the hospital. The Jail Road remained closed and the traffic on the Governor House Road was turned to Shoba Bazaar Road due to Mr Zardari’s meetings with the people from different walks of life at the Governor’s House.
After school hours, students struggled to reach home due to closure of roads leading to Mall Road due to VVIP movement. Long queues of vehicles were seen on the roads. The traffic police didn’t allow motorists to park vehicles along Mall Road and removed vehicles by forklift trucks.
Already on high alert, police didn’t allow motorists and motorcyclists to get close to the gates of sensitive areas. They have sealed the city’s entry and exit points since the start of Muharram.
Only the residents of the main city are allowed only after proper verification, body search and production of identity cards.
Local police justified the closure of roads saying they were bound to do so, especially after a blast outside a Karachi imambargah.
They said the government had ordered them to put in place strict security checks in the city.
A police official said in addition to old ones, at least 30 more checkpoints had been established in sensitive areas of the city to maintain law and order.
He said 33 closed circuit cameras had been installed at the prominent places on Muharram procession routes, while personnel of bomb disposal unit regularly inspected the areas.
Meanwhile, the district administration has decided to take action against the Town-I employees absent from duty in sensitive areas,
According to an official, the administration has directed the relevant town municipal officer to issue show cause notices to such employees.
He said District Coordination Officer, Peshawar Javed Marwat had strictly directed all local security personal, and government and Peshawar Electric Supply Company employees to be punctual at their respective workplaces and remain present on the supreme command post to quickly respond to emergency calls.