Citizens brave another day of traffic mess

Tear gas shelling affects residents during police raid

LAHORE:

The city's traffic system was disrupted throughout the day on Saturday due to closure of roads, while tear gas shelling during a police operation at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s residence in Zaman Park also created problems for local residents.

According to the police, the measures had been taken for security reasons.

People in the affected area complained that they were confined to their homes due to the tear gas shelling.

The police had blocked the route from Aitchison College to Mall Road by setting up barriers, and also closed the traffic on Sunder Das Road.

In addition, roads in the Dharampura and Gari Shahu localities were also closed for traffic by setting up barriers and, as a result, traffic going to Fortress Stadium was also stopped.

Citizens of several areas of the provincial capital had to face great difficulties in reaching their homes.

The police had also parked prison vans at various places as they tried to round up workers of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf who were roaming around on the roads in groups.

After observing the situation in the morning, a large number of citizens could not send their children to schools and colleges.

On the other hand, the men and women themselves could not go to their offices.

Due to the chaotic situation, the Jail Road was also closed in the afternoon, causing traffic jams in more areas.

Anila, a resident who had been stuck on the roads for two hours, said while speaking to The Express Tribune that her mother was unwell and wanted to meet her.

She complained that she had been unable to visit her mother due to the blockade of the Gari Shahu Road from Saddar Cantonment for the past week.

She said that if she had to travel the rickshaw drivers demanded fares manifold higher because of the traffic problems and tedious alternate routes to reach the destination.

“Blockade of traffic on the Mall Road has caused inconvenience for a large number of people,” she observed, demanding that the government take steps to provide relief to the people.

Another commuter, Nadim, said he had tried five different routes to reach his destination but all roads were blocked due to the barriers or the resulting and traffic congestion.

“Petroleum prices have already increased drastically and people are worried about what to do if they are stuck on the roads. If they don't go to the office, their salary will be deducted,” he lamented.

A woman said it had become a norm in Lahore that it took several hours to return home from workplaces because of traffic problems.

The political party camps set up on the Canal Road caused additional difficulties for the people, as the traffic moved at a snail’s pace.

As the police operation at Zaman Park started, the traffic situation worsened as the Mall Road and connecting routes were also blocked.

Traffic in some city parts was also blocked during the day due to the final cricket match of the Pakistan Super League, causing more difficulties for the commuters.

The traffic wardens tried to divert vehicles towards alternative routes, but the placement of containers on the roads resulted in traffic blocks.

However, an official announcement quoted Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi as ordering immediate removal of the containers from the roads of Lahore. He stated that the citizens should not face inconvenience.

He asserted that the police and the district administration should solve the problems of the citizens at the earliest and ensure traffic flow on the Canal Road.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 19^th, 2023.