Road block: Commuters suffer due to protest

GT Road blocked by group protesting Mumtaz Qadri’s execution.

TAXILA: The GT Road near Nawababad was blocked, causing distress to commuters, as religious groups burned tyres protest ing the execution of Mumtaz Qadri’s.

The protest took place after the Friday prayers, causing inconvenience for people travelling on the Rawalpindi-Peshawar and Rawalpindi-Abbottabad routes. Those using public transport were most affected, while ambulances transporting patients to hospitals were also left stranded.

Zareen Khan, a passenger travelling to Rawalpindi for a medical check-up, said she would miss her appointment due to the blocked roads, and would have to wait another week for a new appointment. She said she could not afford to wait another week to see her doctor.

Another commuter, a motorcyclist who was stuck between heavy vehicles, said he was travelling to Mansehra for a relative’s funeral, but was afraid that he would be too late.

Saeed Ahmed, a soldier also stuck on the roads, was afraid that he would not be able to report to his unit on time.

There was a mile-long queue of various vehicles on the road, as protestors continued to block it. Wah Saddar police was able to disperse the protestors after an hour of negotiations.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 19^th, 2016.