Cricket security causes business disruptions

Residents, traders protest impact on livelihoods; call for alternative security measures, routes

RAWALPINDI:

As the cricket matches between Pakistan and Bangladesh are ongoing at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, the area surrounding the stadium has been placed under stringent security measures.

As part of these measures, around 100 shops, hotels, dhabas and food stalls on the food street adjacent to the stadium have been completely sealed. The nearby metro station will also remain fully closed. Starting from August 16 (today), Shamsabad Double Road in front of the cricket stadium and the market adjacent to this road will be completely sealed as well, with all traffic on this road being entirely blocked.

The complete closure of the food street and Shamsabad Double Road from August 16 to August 22 has led to protests from shopkeepers, traders and residents, who are demanding that the cricket stadium be moved outside the city to end this inconvenience for the public.

The shopkeepers have said that due to the closure of shops, hotels, dhabas and stalls for seven days, they are struggling to feed their children. They are demanding that an alternative location be provided for the food street so that they can earn a daily livelihood. The shops have remained sealed each day that there has been a match. They have requested that all shops and hotels be unsealed and made security-proof.

In preparation for the cricket matches, on Thursday evening, following strict instructions from Deputy Commissioner Hassan Waqas Cheema, Civil Defence personnel in uniform, along with local police, Special Branch, and law enforcement agencies, arrived at the food street.

They immediately ordered all diners and families to leave the hotels and began sealing all shops, hotels, dhabas, and stalls. Within an hour and a half, the entire food market was sealed, and all individuals, shopkeepers and watchmen were removed. The main entrance gate was also sealed, and police security was deployed. The Civil Defence personnel conducted a search of the entire food street using trained dogs and explosive detection devices.

Entry into the food street area will be prohibited for an entire week from today. Watchmen staying at hotels have also been evicted, and shops, private offices, markets and plazas on Shamsabad Double Road will remain completely closed. Notices about this closure have been sent to shopkeepers, plaza owners and office owners by the police.

Faisal Khan, a leader of the Shamsabad Double Road Traders Association, stated that there is no justification for the closure of the Double Road market, plazas, hotels and grocery shops. "Such measures are not seen during any cricket matches worldwide. While the district administration is free to take whatever measures it deems necessary, markets and shops should be allowed to remain open," he exclaimed.

"We support our families through our businesses, and such policies that drive us to hunger should not be adopted. Strict security should be implemented during team arrivals and departures," said Khan.

Residents of the surrounding areas have demanded alternative routes for their daily commutes to work, offices, schools, colleges and universities, while the police and district administration have said that security arrangements are being made according to official SOPs.