PTI protests disrupt routine life, business activities

Routine life, business activities and traffic flow almost came to a standstill in Rawalpindi on Tuesday as scores of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers and supporters took to the streets, blocking several key arteries and highways for hours in protest.

The PTI workers said that the FIR in the assassination attempt on former prime minister Imran Khan has not been registered according to the wishes of the party chief.

The PTI workers staged protest in various areas of Rawalpindi including on the old airport road, Faizabad, Shamsabad, Pirwadhai, IJP Road, M-2 motorway and on a road near the Islamabad airport, blocking traffic for hours.

As a result of the protests, vehicles, motorists, ambulances and school vans remained stuck on roads for hours. Intracity and intercity transport and goods transport also remained disrupted for hours. Owing to the protests, goods transport trucks remained stuck on roads, suspending delivery of essential items including fruit and vegetables.

Owing to the protest, the metro bus service also remained suspended from Rawalpindi Saddar station to Faiz Ahmed Faiz station in Islamabad. The metro bus service from Faiz Ahmad Faiz station to Pak Secretariat in Islamabad was also stopped after Tuesday evening as the protests gained momentum.

Citizens faced immense difficulties due to the suspension of bus service and restricted movement of the public transport in the twin cities.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 9^th, 2022.