JI dharna: emergency declared in Pindi hospitals

RAWALPINDI:

In anticipation of potential emergencies during the ongoing Jamat-i-Islami (JI) protest sit-in, public hospitals in Rawalpindi have implemented emergency procedures.

According to sources, leaves of doctors, paramedics and other staff have been cancelled.

The JI dharna at Liaquat Bagh Chowk has entered its fourth consecutive day.

The sit-in, which has taken over the metro bus track, has become a makeshift shelter for participants and the media.

The daily routine at the protest starts with the congregational Fajr prayer, followed by the recitation of the Holy Quran. At 9 o’clock, a hot breakfast of halwa puri, naan chana, and tea is served to the participants.

Throughout the day, mineral water bottles are distributed to keep everyone hydrated.

Young protestors have taken to playing football to pass the time. Despite heavy rainfall last Monday, they played football for two hours in the rain, joyfully splashing around in the one-and-a-half-feet-deep water that accumulated around the square. The rain brought a temporary respite from the heat and soaked the dozens of cotton carpets hastily folded and stored under the metro bus track by the workers.

When it rains, media personnel and protestors alike seek shelter under the metro bus track. The steps of the Liaquat Bagh metro station have turned into sleeping quarters for some of the protestors. The metro bus service, which had resumed on Monday morning after a three-day suspension, was halted again due to the sit-in.

The protest, now in its fourth day, has severely disrupted the local businesses. Roads around the protest site are closed, and containers placed at various points have further hampered access.

This has adversely affected shopkeepers in nearby markets, including Arya Mohalla Bazaar, China Market, College Road, Murree Road, and areas from Murir Hasan to Liaquat Bagh Chowk and Liaquat Road.

Many shopkeepers have started opening their shops late and closing early, resulting in a significant loss of business. The flow of traffic has also been continuously affected, causing inconvenience to commuters.