Youm-e-Inhedam Janatul Baqi: Procession in Rawalpindi causes traffic snarl-up

Police barricade streets leading to procession route, set up cameras and post snipers

RAWALPINDI: Commuters in the garrison city faced a massive log jam after the traffic police closed off a number roads and set up diversions as a mourning procession observing Youm-e-Inhedam Janatul Baqi was held in the city.

The city traffic police sealed roads at as many as eight points in the city to ensure security for the procession which commenced from Imambargah Nasirul Aza on Waris Khan.

The procession of mourners started marching marched along Murree Road from Waris Khan to Committee Chowk after Asar prayers before turning towards Raja Bazaar and before passing through Iqbal Road and culminated in Raja Bazaar at around Maghrib prayers.

As a result, traffic police had to seal Murree Road at National Bank near Committee Chowk, main Committee Chowk, Sherpao Chowk, Alam Khan Chowk, Sain Chicken Pulao, Chittian Hattian, Imam Bargah Chowk, and Savor Foods. As a result, traffic at these points had to be diverted.

Further, the police placed diversions at Marrir Chowk, Liaquat Bagh on Murree Road, Hotel Akbar International on Liaquat Road, at DAV College Road, main Fawara Chowk in Raja Bazaar, at Naya Mohalla Chowk, Islamic Honey Center in Raja Bazaar and at Naz Cinema Chowk on Murree Road.

Traffic from these points was diverted to other roads.

However, miseries for commuters began hours before the procession started. On a day when the mercury soared into the high 30’s, police blocked off the roads by placing barricades as early as 12pm creating problems for commuters using Murree Road.

Moreover, officials diverted traffic from Chandani Chowk flyover towards Commercial Market and Rawal Road.

Motorists had to use Rawal Road and then Tipu Road to reach Marrir. As a result of the diversion, long queues of vehicles were seen on Rawal Road on both tracks. The situation exacerbated towards evening after offices let out for the day.

Further, traffic mess was also observed on roads leading towards Raja Bazaar. Traffic wardens were seen struggling to manage smooth flow of traffic as DSP Traffic city circle along with wardens busy in resolving traffic at blockades and diversions.

Meanwhile, the city police had undertaken tough security arrangements for procession participants.

Security cameras were installed on high rises along with armed police snipers on the rooftops along the route of the procession.

Moreover, walkthrough gates had been installed at the start and end point of the procession. No one was allowed to join the procession midway.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 4^th, 2017.