Another day, same story: PM’s second day in court brings another traffic mess
Litigants and other government officials also puzzled by security arrangements.
ISLAMABAD:
On a rainy Monday morning, it was not only the common people who had to bear the brunt of the security blanket thrown around the Red Zone for Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani’s appearance in the Supreme Court (SC).
The litigants and other officials who had to be present in the SC or other official buildings around it were equally puzzled by the ‘comprehensive’ seizure of the Red Zone.
No person was allowed to enter the SC premises except those issued special entry passes by the court administration to witness the contempt proceedings against the PM before a seven-judge bench.
When Prime Minister Gilani, accompanied by his lawyer Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, drove to the court amid tight security, traffic was stopped on all the entry points of the Red Zone, which created a huge traffic jam on the roads leading to the Constitution Avenue.
Railway’s Minister Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, MNA Rubina Saadat Qaimkhani of the PPP, PML-N’s MNA Ayaz Amir and many other government officials were denied entry to the court room for not having special entry passes.
Before the PM’s arrival in the SC, his protocol staff, along with bomb disposal squad, checked every corner of the court’s building and reviewed the security arrangements.
SC administration had earlier denied entry of PM’s vehicle inside court premises and asked him to park it in the general parking area. However, his vehicle was later allowed inside the court, by the SC registrar.
Heavy contingent of police and special branch were present for the PM’s protection on both ends of the road leading to the SC building whereas helicopters were buzzing over for aerial surveillance of PM’s motorcade.
Commuters’ woes
For the second time in less than a month now, people were left stranded on the Khayaban-e-Suharwardy, Ataturk Avenue and other roads leading to the Constitution Avenue were blocked as the traffic police officials cordoned off the area for a short while. Government offices and other buildings were also deemed inaccessible for some time, resulting in long queues of vehicles in the area.
“It is a routine now. Every time such a hearing takes place, we should be ready to spend a good three hours on the roads. Maybe we should shift our offices from their current location,” said Imtiaz, who works at a private office near the Red Zone. “They promised better arrangement this time around. I have been waiting for the roads to open for the past one hour now. The weather is making it even harder,” said Ali, a driver.
Rendering support
ANP chief Asfandyar Wali, PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Federal Minister for Water and Power Syed Naveed Qamar, Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khursheed Shah, Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar, Federal Information Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan, PPP Information Secretary Qamar Zaman Kaira, Baitulmal Chairman Zumard Khan and other PPP stalwarts received the PM when he reached the court.
After the hearing of the case was put off till February 22, the prime minster left the court building along with his counsel and aides from the judges’ entry gate instead of the public gate from where he had entered the court.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 14th, 2012.
On a rainy Monday morning, it was not only the common people who had to bear the brunt of the security blanket thrown around the Red Zone for Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani’s appearance in the Supreme Court (SC).
The litigants and other officials who had to be present in the SC or other official buildings around it were equally puzzled by the ‘comprehensive’ seizure of the Red Zone.
No person was allowed to enter the SC premises except those issued special entry passes by the court administration to witness the contempt proceedings against the PM before a seven-judge bench.
When Prime Minister Gilani, accompanied by his lawyer Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, drove to the court amid tight security, traffic was stopped on all the entry points of the Red Zone, which created a huge traffic jam on the roads leading to the Constitution Avenue.
Railway’s Minister Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, MNA Rubina Saadat Qaimkhani of the PPP, PML-N’s MNA Ayaz Amir and many other government officials were denied entry to the court room for not having special entry passes.
Before the PM’s arrival in the SC, his protocol staff, along with bomb disposal squad, checked every corner of the court’s building and reviewed the security arrangements.
SC administration had earlier denied entry of PM’s vehicle inside court premises and asked him to park it in the general parking area. However, his vehicle was later allowed inside the court, by the SC registrar.
Heavy contingent of police and special branch were present for the PM’s protection on both ends of the road leading to the SC building whereas helicopters were buzzing over for aerial surveillance of PM’s motorcade.
Commuters’ woes
For the second time in less than a month now, people were left stranded on the Khayaban-e-Suharwardy, Ataturk Avenue and other roads leading to the Constitution Avenue were blocked as the traffic police officials cordoned off the area for a short while. Government offices and other buildings were also deemed inaccessible for some time, resulting in long queues of vehicles in the area.
“It is a routine now. Every time such a hearing takes place, we should be ready to spend a good three hours on the roads. Maybe we should shift our offices from their current location,” said Imtiaz, who works at a private office near the Red Zone. “They promised better arrangement this time around. I have been waiting for the roads to open for the past one hour now. The weather is making it even harder,” said Ali, a driver.
Rendering support
ANP chief Asfandyar Wali, PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Federal Minister for Water and Power Syed Naveed Qamar, Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khursheed Shah, Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar, Federal Information Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan, PPP Information Secretary Qamar Zaman Kaira, Baitulmal Chairman Zumard Khan and other PPP stalwarts received the PM when he reached the court.
After the hearing of the case was put off till February 22, the prime minster left the court building along with his counsel and aides from the judges’ entry gate instead of the public gate from where he had entered the court.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 14th, 2012.