Drawing ire: Closure of U-turn sparks protest

Irked villagers keep GT Road blocked for two hours

KHAIRPUR: After the district administration placed barricades and blocked the U-turn on GT Road near Talokar in Haripur district, locals took to the streets on Thursday. Residents of Talokar, Gehr Khan, Muradabad, Kherabad and adjoining areas protested the move and blocked GT Road for two hours.

Traffic between Abbottabad and southern areas of the country remained suspended until the police successfully negotiated with the demonstrators.

The villagers gathered on the road near Silkway Plaza. They chanted slogans against the DPO and district administration. Addressing the protesters, Pakistan Peoples Party district president Zulfiqar Qureshi termed the move illogical and pointless. He said blocking the U-turn will force commuters to use the turn near the new bus stand, which will waste time and cause traffic congestion.

A local government candidate Ghulam Jan said barricading the U-turn will in no way solve the traffic problem of the area but would rather add to the woes of the people.

Following assurances by the police of reopening the turn in two days, the villagers dispersed peacefully.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 15^th, 2015.