Normalcy returns as JI wraps up sit-in

Commercial activities around Liaquat Bagh resume after 14-day hiatus

RAWALPINDI:

As the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) sit-in concluded, normalcy began to return to Rawalpindi, particularly around the Liaquat Bagh Chowk area, which had been the theatre of the 14-day protest.

The sit-in, initially launched on a large scale to protest against rising electricity prices, petroleum products, and new taxes on the salaried class, gradually wrapped up by Friday, allowing life to resume its regular pace in the affected parts of the city.

During the sit-in, the usually bustling Liaquat Bagh Chowk and its surrounding commercial hubs were significantly impacted.

Businesses remained closed, and movement in the area was heavily restricted. However, with the end of the protest, shopkeepers have reopened their establishments, and pedestrian paths that were once blocked have been cleared, enabling free movement, especially for women in the area.

On the final day of the sit-in, those involved in the logistics of the protest, such as workers and staff responsible for unloading and setting up goods, were treated to a breakfast feast that included halwa puri, chanay, naan, paratha, and tea. This gesture marked the winding down of the protest. Subsequently, the heavy police presence that had been maintained for security was withdrawn, and the containers, barriers, and other obstacles set up for crowd control were removed.

A significant outcome of the sit-in's conclusion was the reopening of three metro stations—Murir Chowk, Liaquat Bagh Chowk, and Waris Khan stations—which had been closed for the duration of the protest.

These stations saw a surge in passenger traffic throughout the day, as commuters resumed their daily routines. The traffic system in Liaquat Bagh was also restored to its usual flow.

By Friday afternoon, JI workers had dismantled all temporary structures that had been erected for the sit-in. Party banners and flags that had adorned the area were taken down, and the belongings, chairs, and other items used during the protest were removed. The area around Liaquat Bagh Chowk, which had become littered with discarded food and beverages, was thoroughly cleaned by diligent sanitary workers.

The roads surrounding Liaquat Bagh Chowk, as well as the park itself, were cleared of all garbage. Temporary toilets and washrooms that had been set up for the protesters were also dismantled, and the steps of the metro bus station, which had been cluttered with protest-related debris, were cleaned.