Zafar Ali Khan
ISLAMABAD: Authorities in Rawalpindi have put the garrison city under virtual siege by placing containers on roads and main thoroughfares ahead of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s power show on Saturday (today).
Traffic and movement between the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad has also come to a grinding halt as administrations and police have blocked main entry and exit points as PTI caravans from across the country started pouring into the garrison city.
The closure of roads and arteries have badly affected the routine life and businesses in Rawalpindi, especially along Murree Road and around Faizabad.
The closure of roads including the main Murree Road in Rawalpindi has not only created problems for travellers and motorists, but it has also cost traders millions of rupees.
The metro bus service, the only public transit, between the twin cities has been shut while intra and inter-city transport also remained off the roads, causing immense inconvenience to tarvellers.
The authorities have also closed the Faizabad bus terminal, the main point of the intra-and-intercity bus and van service.
The Faizabad intersection connecting the twin cities has also been closed by placing containers and erecting other hurdles, which has also barred the entry of goods transport vehicles into and out of the city.
The administration has also closed the entry and exit points at 9th Avenue, 26 No Chungi and Golra Mor and other main points, barring traffic movement between the twin cities.
A large number of motorists and motorcyclists intending to travel to Islamabad from Rawalpindi have remained stuck on main roads in Rawalpindi as police have sealed arteries by placing containers.
The closure of roads in Rawalpindi has also put patients in trouble who are facing difficulties in reaching hospitals. The blockade of roads has confined residents of the garrison city to their homes.
All public and private schools and educational institutions in Rawalpindi have also been closed ahead of the PTI rally while government and private offices, shops and business centres on main Murree Road and adjoining areas have also been closed by the administration.
Meanwhile, a large number of PTI workers and supporters have started arriving in Rawalpindi in the shape of caravans. The PTI Rawalpindi chapter has arranged feasts and meals for the arriving workers, who are being welcomed at breakfast tables at different venues and hotels that had already received orders to prepare and cook food in bulk.
The PTI will hold its main rally on Sith Road, Rawalpindi, as party workers started arriving at the venue, where a stage has been erected and seating arrangements have been made for the rally participants.
A notification issued by the Rawalpindi deputy commissioner asked the organisers of the public rally to wrap up the gathering the same day after the party leadership including party chief Imran Khan addressed it.
“Since, Imran Khan, the PTI Chairman and the leadership of PTI will also participate in the said programme, the proposed site is an open place and poses serious security threat due to present prevailing hazardous security environment and terrorist threats/incidents in country,” said the notification.
“As per recent threat alerts to the PTI leadership, the organisers of the public gathering shall take extreme precautionary measures as well as necessary security arrangements in addition to the arrangements made by local police especially during the address of Imran Khan to avert any untoward incident,” it said.
It said that the organisers will ensure that the PTI chairman follows the prescribed route to enter and leave the venue. It said that Imran Khan would not use the vehicle’s sunroof during and after his address to the public gathering.
The notification said that the organisers will ensure that the participants will vacate the venue after the rally and Imran Khan’s address. Afterward, the Allama Iqbal Park will not be used for any further stay at night.
It said that display of firearms shall strictly be prohibited and fireworks shall not be carried out during the gathering and public rally.
No speech against constitutional offices /armed forces and judiciary is allowed and no effigy of any religious or any other person belonging to any country shall be burnt.
Volunteers and police personnel will ensure the security of the rally and container of the PTI leadership.
All people will be frisked before they are allowed to enter the rally venue.
