GT Road blockade, internet outage irk residents

Police face flak for failure to prevent aggravation of situation

LAHORE:

People of the provincial capital and adjoining districts have been facing inconvenience since a banned group started a march from Lahore on October 22.

On October 22 and 23, entry to several parts of the city was blocked, leaving citizens stranded at their homes.

It is estimated that over 2.5 million people leave or enter the city daily. In addition, millions of people travel on the GT Road every day. The highway connects the provincial metropolis with the federal capital besides serving as a major trade route housing several industrial hubs and cities along it. Since October 23, the transport on GT Road has come to a halt. Train operations have also been disrupted amid the situation.

The authorities have also suspended internet service in Sheikhupura, Gujranwala, Jhelum, Gujrat and other adjacent districts.

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, a lot of educational and economic activities had been shifted online. Therefore, the citizens, particularly students, deprived of the service in the affected areas complained over the move. The internet service providers in the areas say that the service would be restored on government’s instructions.

However, there was not clear response from the official quarters about how the situation escalated to this point. When asked, government and police officials blamed each other for the difficulties faced by the people.

Reportedly, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday expressed his annoyance over Punjab Police top brass for their failure to prevent the aggravation of the situation.

However, on the other hand, police officers were wary of an “unclear” government policy vis-a-vis dealing with the protesters. They said that the government’s policy had oscillated between resorting to the use of force and “peaceful negotiations”.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 31^st, 2021.