Gridlocks grind Lahore traffic to a halt on Taseer's death anniversary

Commuters stuck for hours as police block roads

LAHORE: Commuters in Lahore were stuck in traffic for hours as a massive gridlock occurred across the city on the death anniversary of slain Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer.

Due to road blockages for security reasons, there was a huge traffic mess throughout the provincial capital. Some of the affected areas included Mall, Ferozepur and Gulberg Main Boulevard roads.

All of them had been blocked to restrict the movement of a planned rally which opposed the views of the slain governor.



This resulted in a massive spillover effect on the smaller roads. The Metro Bus also ground to a halt due to the traffic.

The Civil Society Network had organised candlelit vigils at Liberty Roundabout, Main Boulevard Gulberg and paid homage to Salmaan Taseer.



However, the network’s president Abdullah Malik told The Express Tribune that he was unable to reach a candlelit vigil planned on Lalik Jan Road in DHA due to the severe traffic jam.

He said that the event could not be held, but vowed to continue with the vigil over the coming days.

Also on Wednesday, the Punjab police arrested over 100 people for attempting to hold a rally in the Gulberg area of Lahore.

The cops stated that certain elements wanted to disrupt events being held to mark the death anniversary of Taseer.

Clashes took place as people charged at the police after news of the arrest of one of their leaders started spreading.

Heavy contingents of police were deployed at Kalima Chowk and adjoining roads were blocked by containers. DIG Operations Lahore Dr Haider Ashraf said no one would be allowed to take the law into their own hands. He said a DSP and four constables were injured in skirmishes with protesters.

Shaan Taseer booked for 'hate speech' following Christmas message

Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer was attacked and killed in a firing incident in Islamabad’s Kohsar market on January 4, 2011.

The late governor was shot by one of his security guards, an elite force personnel, who was identified as Mumtaz Qadri.

At the time, a spokesperson of the Polyclinic Hospital in the federal capital confirmed that the governor had been hit by 25 bullets.

His self-confessed killer was executed at the Adiala Jail early in February, 2016.

Qadri murdered Taseer as the slain governor lent his support to an individual accused of blasphemy.

An anti-terrorism Court convicted Qadri and condemned him to death. The same ruling was also upheld by the Islamabad High Court and Supreme Court.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 5^th, 2017.