Locals fear Nawaz rally will cripple the city

Over two million live along the procession route which is also rife with commercial activity

LAHORE: The lives of over two million, living on the route of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s rally in Lahore, are likely to come to a standstill.

This is due to the extraordinary security arrangements on GT Road from Imamia Colony Railway Crossing to Data Darbar. The rally will enter the provincial capital from one of the busiest entry points and affect the movement of hundreds of thousands of commuters who enter Lahore from GT Road at Shahdara. These commuters come from cities like Ferozwala, Muridke, Gujranwala and Gujrat, while others enter at Begum Kot from Sheikhpura, Faisabalabad and Nankana Sahib.



The rally in Lahore will enter from Imamia Colony Railway Crossing and pass through Shahdara Mor, Niazi Chowk, Batti Chowk, Ravi Bridge, Azadi Flyover and reach Data Darbar.  At least two million people live on both sides of these roads. Besides, the area is also a hub for businesses of residents from other parts of the city.

According to the security plan, the main route of the procession will be closed down for all kinds of traffic on the day of the rally. The streets and roads leading towards the route will be cordoned off with tents, barbed wire and barricades. Therefore, motorists will be asked to use alternative routes.

Ahmad Shahzad, who in his early 20s, runs a fruit juice shop in Karim Park. He says their area is near the Azadi Chowk Flyover and surrounding roads are closed whenever there is VIP movement around Greater Iqbal Park or the Urs of Data Ganj Baksh Ali Hajveri is held. “We are cut off from the rest of the city and stranded in our own locality.”

He complains that these blockades are a great nuisance and even the entries of ambulances are sometimes restricted. “Our guests cannot come to this area nor leave for other places of the city. “This time, the situation will be far worse,” he fears.

MAP: TALHA KHAN

Mian Aslam, a resident of Saeed Park, runs a photocopy and stationery shop inside one of the streets in the area. He tells The Express Tribune that the authorities have not contacted him about closing down his shop on the day of the rally. He plans on making his own decision after gauging the situation.

Lorry Adda, the second busiest bus stand of the metropolis, is situated hardly 400 metres away from the Azadi Flyover, one of the reception points for Nawaz Sharif. Every second minute, a bus carrying over 35 passengers leaves from this hub for other cities. The buses leaving from Lorry Adda have to pass through the Azadi Flyover or the Old Ravi Bridge.

Both roads lead to the route map. Therefore, life at Lorry Adda is likely to come to a complete standstill. Imtiaz Bhutta, a conductor, says that police are conducting search operations and harassing locals before the rally. “They are not only taking people into custody to mint money, but also impounding vehicles to use in the rally.”



Imdad Khan works as a manual laborer at a steel warehouse in Badami Bagh, which is behind the Lorry Adda. He confirms that police, prior to the rally, have been conducting search operations at their houses and workplaces. He expressed reservations over security measures which are affecting his routine life.

Greater Iqbal Park, Badshahi Mosque, Lahore Fort, Jahangir Tomb and Androon-e-Lahore were historical places. Thousands of people visited these places on a daily basis. These will be closed down for security purposes on the day.

A senior police officer said that they were facing problems in securing the route as the area was highly congested. The entire route hosted thousands of shops and houses. It was impossible for them to check or conduct combing operations to clear these places.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 10^th, 2017.