Heavy protocol: National Highway blocked for four hours as PM visits Sukkur

People living in nearby villages not allowed to come out of homes hours before visit

Much to the displeasure of local residents, strict security measures were adopted for the visit of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to Sukkur to lay the foundation stone of the Sukkur-Multan Motorway near Rohri Bypass on Friday.

Arrangements had begun from Thursday morning near Rohri Bypass. A giant, makeshift tent, with air-conditioning, was erected for accommodating around 2,000 people. Security was stepped up to the extent that the people living in the nearby villages were not allowed to come out of their homes hours before the PM’s visit.

The long road from Sukkur Airport to the venue, which is around 25 kilometres, was blocked for vehicular movement from about 11am, due to which traffic between Sindh and Punjab remained suspended for more than four hours. As Sukkur is situated at the junction of three provinces - Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan - thousands of vehicles, including transport trucks, were stuck on the National Highway from Shikarpur to Sukkur, Khairpur to Sukkur and Ghotki to Sukkur, for hours.

More than 3,000 policemen from other districts and Rangers personnel were deployed en route and around the venue. Besides, a team of the bomb disposal squad was deployed for thorough checking of the entire area. Sukkur Electric Power Company officials, who are frequently seen ignoring even major faults for days, were seen erecting new poles and installing new transformers to provide uninterrupted supply of electricity. Keeping in view the chances of power outages, heavy generators with support staff were also kept on standby.

On his arrival at Sukkur airport, Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah and others received the premier, who later rode to the venue in a motorcade. The chief minister was not invited to address the participants of the event, while the Sindh governor, who represents the federation, did not come to receive the PM.

During his speech, the PM announced constructing a new bridge to replace the old Lance Downe Bridge. The last prime minister, Yousuf Raza Gillani, had also announced the construction of the same bridge. However, that remained a mere announcement only.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 7^th, 2016.