Demonstration against loadshedding: For smooth movement of protesters, no vehicles allowed

Benazir Bhutto Road to be closed for traffic on Wednesday.

RAWALPINDI:

For the first time in recent history, a decision has been taken to block the main artery of Rawalpindi to organise a protest. According to a press release issued by City Police Officer Ghulam Abbas Tarrar on Monday, Benazir Bhutto Road would be closed for traffic on Wednesday.

The measure has been taken facilitate a protest that is being organised by the ruling party of the province, PML-N, against the power outages and recent hike in fuel prices.

According to the official, the Murree Road of the past will be blocked from 2pm to 6pm on April 4 to facilitate the protesters and to save the commuters from inconvenience.

Tarar directed the commuters going to and coming from Islamabad to use either Peshawar Road or Airport Road as alternate routes.

On the other hand, the CTO urged the inter-city commuters to use Ganjmandi Road, Khyaban-e-Sir Syed Road and Sadiqabad Road during the protest timings.

The traffic officer said no vehicle would be allowed on BB Road from Chandni Chowk to Marrir Chowk during protests.

PML-N Rawalpindi General Secretary Sardar Naseem Khan said a huge protest rally would be arranged on the directions of the PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif.

He said the small rallies would start reaching Rawalpindi Press Club at about 3:30pm. From there, we would all conduct a march on the BB Road to protest against load shedding and increase in fuel prices, he added.

Meanwhile, the citizens expressed their concern over the closure of the main road just because the ruling party in Punjab is organising a protest.

Every other day there are protests on the busy road but never in the past have they thought about diverting the traffic, said Shahid Paracha, a businessman from Raja Bazaar.

On the other hand, district administration had urged on the elected representatives to keep the protesters calm and avoid any sort of vandalism.

Last week, Rawalpindi Commissioner Imdadullah Bosal had asked the elected representatives to stop the protesters from damaging public and private property.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 3^rd, 2012.