Diversions: Traffic plan issued for Rawalpindi

Security beefed up in garrison town with police and army deployed

RAWALPINDI: Residents of Rawalpindi, particularly those living in the in cantonment areas, will likely face trouble commuting to and from their destinations today as several thoroughfares would be closed and security would be intensified as the ceremony for General Qamar Javaid Bajwa taking over as new the Chief of Army Staff is held today (Tuesday).

In this regard, the traffic police in the city have released a traffic plan. The Rawalpindi city district government, meanwhile, has announced that the metro bus service will be suspended for half the day.

As the change of command ceremony takes place at the hockey ground near the military’s general headquarters (GHQ), roads would be closed for all kind of vehicular traffic from Shalimar Chowk to Mall Chowk, PTCL Chowk to Chungi Number 22, Tameezuddin Road (from PC Hotel Turn to CSD) and Iftikhar Janjua Road from EME Mess Chowk to GHQ.

Commuters trying to go to Saddar, would be diverted from Shalimar Chowk towards Panj Sarki and then towards Rashid Minhas Road. Traffic would also be diverted from Military Hospital Chowk on Mall Road to Haider Road.

No vehicle would be allowed to go to FWO chowk from Chungi No 22. Instead, they would be diverted to Adra Road.

Meanwhile, Misrial Road and Halli Road would remain closed to provide a clear way to the mourners of Chehlum procession on Peshawar Road.

Traffic from Charing Cross to Chuhur Chowk on Peshawar Road would not be allowed till the mourning procession concludes.

Motorists heading towards Golra Chowk would have to do so through Qasim Market, Range Road, Shalley Valley, Misrial Road and Bhatta Chowk.

The city administration said that the metro bus would also remain suspended from 6am to 2pm.

Security beefed up

Security remained on high alert in the cantonment areas surrounding the joint staff headquarters in Chaklala on Monday where General Zubair Mahmood Hayat took over as new Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee on Monday.

Security is also expected to remain heightened today ahead of the change of command ceremony as troops of the Pakistan Army continue to patrol roads leading to the GHQ while all vehicles entering the cantonment areas were checked.

Further, troops from a Quick Response Force continued patrolling various parts of the city.

The police and other security personnel in the district too are on high alert. City Police Officer (CPO) Israr Abbasi said that around 3,000 cops have been deputed around the city to maintain security for the ceremony and for the mourning procession.

Police, Abbasi said, would also be assisted by personnel of the Special Branch, commandos of the Elite Force, women police and mounted police.

Further, he said that special pickets have also been set up at all the entry and exit point points of the city while search operations are also underway in the suburbs around the GHQ.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 29^th, 2016.