Lahore calm as PTI’s juggernaut rolls through

No major clashes or gridlock surprise traders, residents alike

LAHORE: Routine life in Lahore continued without any hindrance as no traffic jams or clashes were witnessed throughout the day with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf gearing up to flex its muscle in Raiwind.

The business community and citizens of Lahore observed Friday as a normal day despite the demonstration called by the Imran Khan-led party.

Historically, Lahore’s main artery Mall Road, Iqbal Park and Mochi Gate are famous for demonstrations, sit-ins and rallies by political and religious groups.

But Friday’s venue of protest, the Adda Plot situated on Raiwind Road, gave breathing space to Lahore, thereby allowing smooth flow of traffic especially at the two main entry points of city of Ravi Bridge and Thokar Niaz Baig.

“Today is a pleasant surprise for us, we are doing our business without any nuisance,” said All Pakistan Anjumane Tajran Secretary General Naeem Mir.

“Though the PTI is demonstrating at Adda Plot for political reasons, this is a welcome sign for Mall Road traders, who bear the brunt of protests and rallies in front of Punjab Assembly,” he said. “We wish other political parties and groups should follow this model and choose outskirts of Lahore for the sake of city’s economy.”

Apart from Mall Road, all other business centres and wholesale markets also continued their routine activities without problems. Even on Raiwind Road, shops and other small business remained open not for the sake of minting money but for the sake of earning bread and butter.

“We do not have anything to do with the rally as the majority of shops here are owned or operated by the lower-middle class,” said Arshad Chaudhry, a shop owner on Raiwind Road. “What is more important for us is the customers no matter from where they belong to as we live on a day-to-day basis.”

Despite the normalcy, a majority of citizens preferred to stay at home the whole day fearful of massive traffic jams or to avoid any unwanted incident. Citizens irked by the increasing number of protests have recommended the local administration educate the protesters on sparing the public.

“The concept of protests is different in Pakistan,” believed Wajahat Hussain, a banker. “Most of the groups believe the demonstration is successful only if businesses are closed or there is chaos on roads.”

Jammers, gates dot rally route

The city police and law-enforcement agencies had made stringent security arrangements for Friday to protect the prime minister’s Jati Umra residence and for the security of PTI’s march.

The prime minister’s residence was cordoned off with containers placed and barricades and razor wires installed on the roads near the house. A helicopter continuously surveyed the whole area from above.

Route plan

Temporary steel gates were erected at all entry points of the rally where police officials were seen frisking participants. Dozens of walkthrough gates were also installed at the venue.

The city police also installed over a dozen mobile phone jammers along the route of the rally. A police official deployed at Qazalbash Chowk on Raiwind Road told The Express Tribune the police had brought cellular phone jamming equipment from 10 areas across Punjab, including Multan, Sargodha, Bahawalpur, Sahiwal, Sheikhupura, Dera Ghazi Khan, Faisalabad, Gujranwala and Lahore.

These jammers would be functional once the VIP movement started, he maintained. The government had also called the police force from other districts of Punjab to make foolproof security for the Raiwind march, he said.

Over 7,500 police officials had been deputed in four layers to ensure foolproof security to the public gathering, DIG Operations Dr Haider Ashraf told the media. In the wake of terrorism threats, he added, it was a challenging task, but the police force was ready to deal with all types of situations.

Promising limits

The PTI leadership had given full assurance to the police and administration that no rally participant would move towards the Sharif estate. The leadership had also assured of finishing the gathering at 11pm and would encourage rally participants to disperse peacefully.

Lahore Division Commissioner Abdullah Khan Sumbal told journalists that law-enforcement agencies had made stringent security arrangements.

He said the police had not only conducted combing operation in the Raiwind area, but did so in n Sheikhupura as well to avoid any untoward incident.

The police and local administration had designated a separate route for PTI Chairperson Imran Khan and other senior party leaders. A helipad was made in a nearby private property from where Imran’s cavalcade reached the backstage under tight security. Before the PTI chief entered, police officials had scanned the stage and adjoining areas.

The situation remained peaceful during the day. However, in the evening when more people joined in a slight mismanagement was observed at the main entrance on Raiwind Road, where PTI workers and volunteers exchanged harsh words with the police officials.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 1^st, 2016.