Punjab

Normalcy returns in twin cities after daylong PTI protest

Citizens in the twin cities breathed a sigh of relief as all businesses, public transport remained open

Imran Asghar October 23, 2022

PTI workers protest party supremo Imran Khan's disqualification.

RAWALPINDI:

After a daylong tension between the law enforcers and workers of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), who took to the streets to protest against the disqualification of party chief and former prime minister Imran Khan on Friday, normalcy returned in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

All highways including Murree Road, Express Highway and Faizabad Interchange remained open on Saturday. Citizens in the twin cities breathed a sigh of relief as all businesses, including public transport, also remained open.

Meanwhile, a heavy contingent of Islamabad Police remained deployed at the Faizabad Interchange, which had turned into a battlefield on Friday after clashes between the police and the PTI workers erupted outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) office and other areas of the red zone.

The PTI workers staged protests at various places and tried to enter Islamabad from Faizabad Interchange in a large group after Friday prayers against the ECP’s verdict in the Toshakhana reference against Imran.

Clashes between the PTI workers and Islamabad police continued till 11 pm on Friday at various places. Heavy tear gas was used by the police against the protestors which kept the situation tense in the twin cities and normal life was badly affected. However, the situation in the twin cities returned to normal on Saturday morning.

Police removed obstacles from Express Highway, Murree Road, Faizabad Interchange, No. 26 Chungi, Sangjani Toll Plaza, Mandira Toll Plaza, Islamabad Peshawar Motorway Toll Plaza and other important highways due to which traffic flow remained normal.

Zeeshan Abbasi, who is associated with the mobile phone business near Faizabad bus stand, said that the residents and businessmen of Faizabad remain depressed due to the tense situation in the city now and then.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 23^rd, 2022.