JI sit-in throws Pindi life out of gear
JI chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman addressing protesters on the second day of the sit-in at Liaquat Bagh in Rawalpindi on Saturday. PHOTO: FACEBOOK/JI
The ongoing protest of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) against inflation at Rawalpindi’s Liaqat Bagh Chowk threw the traffic out of gear and paralysed the daily routine of motorists and citizens on Saturday.
The sit-in, which was organised on Friday, entered the second day, choking the traffic system on all roads of Rawalpindi city and Cantt, inner city and adjacent areas of Liaquat Bagh for the last 36 hours. The protest also brought commercial and economic activities to a standstill.
The blockade also suspended the metro bus service and disrupted the daily commute of 300,000 people, including students and employees between Rawalpindi and Islamabad. These citizens were coerced into hiring Bykea, motorcycles and taxis while shelling out thousands of rupees to travel.
The closure of Murree Road from Chandni Chowk to Murir Chowk diverted traffic to adjacent streets, causing gridlocks and standstills. The standstill of the traffic system on roads resulted in a cessation of business operations. Women were unable to go out for groceries due to the hurried circumstances that prevented them from leaving their homes.
Ambulances were stuck in traffic several times as police placed containers at Murir Chowk, Chandni Chowk and Committee Chowk to block roads leading to Liaquat Bagh Chowk. Other roads including Liaquat Road, China Market, and Arya Mohalla Road, Iqbal Road, Raja Bazar, Fawara Chowk, College Road, Alam Khan Road, Rawal Road, Saidpur Road, Kashmir Road, and City Saddar Road also witnessed blockades.
The sit-in severely impacted daily life, with students unable to reach colleges and universities due to the metro bus suspension. There was zero revenue from metro buses on Friday and Saturday as a result of the complete shutdown. Bykea motorcyclists took advantage of the situation, charging arbitrary fares.
The buying and selling in commercial centres, markets, and plazas across the city remained suspended, leaving shopkeepers sitting idle.
Trade leaders Faisal Ali, Nauroz Khan and Ahmad Ali demanded a complete ban on sit-ins on main roads and intersections in the city and called for a designated protest area to avoid disrupting daily life and economic activities. They emphasised that no political or religious party should be allowed to occupy main thoroughfares.