Life back to normal in twin cities

Metro bus service restored, roadblocks from major roads removed

ISLAMABAD/ RAWALPINDI:

Life returned to normalcy in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Thursday after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief and former prime minister Imran Khan announced to call off his proposed protest rally and sit-in at D-Chowk, Islamabad.

The routine life and businesses in the twin cities were back to their bustling self after the removal of containers and trailers from roads.

The metro bus service between the twin cities was also restored while intra-city public transport encompassing wagons, minibusses and coasters was also restored.

Containers and obstacles set up to block the highways of Islamabad by the administration to stop the PTI workers from moving towards D-Chowk were removed.

After the removal of roadblocks on Murree Road, Marrir Chowk, Committee Chowk, Liaquat Bagh, Chandni Chowk, Shamsabad, Double Road, Faizabad, Old Airport Road, Kral Chowk, Sawan Bridge, GT Road and Motorway, roads were cleared for traffic. Metro buses that were taken out of Peshawar Mor depot on Monday night for security concerns and parked on an elevated track at the Saddar Rawalpindi station were shifted back to the metro depot at noon. Later at 3 pm, the service was restored between the twin cities. The metro bus service had been suspended on Tuesday due to security reasons.

The administration of the Metro Bus Authority said that except for a few metro stations, the PTI protesters did not damage the infrastructure and the service was restored as usual.

On the other hand, the citizens breathed a sigh of relief when the roads were opened and transport and metro bus service were restored in the twin cities.

According to reports, PTI party workers severely damaged property in the capital's Blue Area, setting fire to trees and burning telephone wires.

The Islamabad police also reported that the party workers had entered the Red Zone after Imran left for Bani Gala early Thursday morning.

The PTI workers also left behind a trail of trash and garbage in the federal capital as roads were strewn with used bottles, polythene bags and boxes.

There was a complete mess at the D-Chowk where trash and garbage were all-pervading.

On the other hand, Residents of Rawalpindi and shopkeepers on either side of Murree Road who were on tenterhooks the entire time were relieved with the overall return to normalcy.

The business has resumed at the city’s largest jewelers, electronics, auto dealers and workshops, and medical and bridal shops on Murree Road and is already enjoying a roaring trade on the very first day back at work.

Thousands of commuters, whose nature of work required daily plying also heaved a sigh of relief as authorities cleared the area of containers as well. Shops selling food, soups, kebabs, fish, roast chicken, etc in and around Murree Road were also crowded with customers.

Intra and intercity transport that was suspended because of the closure of GT Road has recommenced as well. However, the supply of food items could not be fully restored, as the GT Road was still closed at some points.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 27^th, 2022.