Commuters in Lahore faced immense problems after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activists staged protests at over 10 points in the city against disqualification order by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) against PTI chief Imran Khan.
As the decision was announced, the protestors gathered outside PTI main office "Insaf House" at Jail Road.
They blocked road in front of the house on one side. It resulted in traffic mess.
Gradually, the protests spread in other parts of the city as well as the PTI activists gathered in different areas. In few hours, they gathered at Shahdara Chowk, Kalma Chowk, Samanabad, Thokar Niaz Beg, Babu Sabu, GPO Chowk Mall Road, Bank Stop on Ferozpur Road, Bhatta Chowk, Youhanabad and Ring Road Harbancepura.
These included the main entry exit points and roads of the city. The blockade caused nuisance for public as they were stuck for many hours.
They moved to the adjacent roads in search of way for their destination.
This resulted into load on these roads. Traffic wardens had also set up diversions leading the traffic on the other roads. The commuters remained stuck in the traffic for hours as the vehicles moved at a snail’s pace.
The same situation was also reported in other parts of the city also.
Inspector General Police Punjab Faisal Shahkar issued special instructions to the RPOs, DPOs should not allow blockage of roads in view of the road closures in various cities across the province.
The IGP, while issuing the directive said that special measures should be taken to save people traveling on the main highways, especially families, from travel problems while the motorway and inter-district roads should not be allowed to be blocked for traffic.
He has directed the officers to take special measures to ensure the flow of traffic for ambulances and roads adjacent to hospitals. The IGP also emphasised upon field police officers, Traffic Police and Punjab Highway Patrol to arrange special measures so that the citizens do not face any problem.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 22nd, 2022.
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