PTI rally: Commuters, sick suffer as ‘tsunamists’ flood BB Road
Vehicular traffic on the road was blocked from Mareer Chowk to Chandni Chowk for many hours by young enthusiasts
RAWALPINDI:
The first-ever Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) show of power in the garrison city generated enthusiasm among party supporters but chaos on the roads, as traffic on Benazir Bhutto Road formerly known as Murree Road, was completely paralysed.
In Islamabad too, a PTI procession consisting of about 20 vans and cars partially blocked the flow of traffic on Kashmir Highway.
Thousand of PTI activists started flocking Liaquat Bagh at around 5pm, carrying banners, waving party flags and flaunting photos of party chief Imran Khan, though the proceedings did not begin until 7pm. Most of those in participants were brought in buses and wagons from Attock, Murree, Wah Cantt and Rawalpindi Division, along with substantial number of people travelling from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
Vehicular traffic on the road itself was blocked from Mareer Chowk to Chandni Chowk for many hours by young enthusiasts.
“I think this is the right time to show people power… We (the youth) have to prove we can bring change by voting for Imran Khan,” said a group of enthusiastic young locals.
Both sides of BB Road were packed with huge crowed and people from all walks of life, including youngsters, old people and women. Many young motorcycle enthusiasts were seen doing wheelie through a sea of vehicles decorated with PTI flags and posters of Khan.
“This is a great time to try some stunts as the police are too busy to run after us,” said motorcyclist Hammad, as the flag on his bike hovered behind him.
Unfortunately, for those who were not out to have a good time, access to the city’s two biggest hospitals, Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) and Holy Family Hospital (HFH), was near impossible.
“My daughter is admitted in BBH. She will miss her medication due to the traffic mess, all because I am stuck here with her medicine,” Imtiaz Khalid fumed in his car with a bag of medicine on the passenger seat. The roads should have been cleared for commuters because there is no other way to get to the hospital,” the frustrated Khalid said.
The long queues were formed in part because of throngs of dancing youngsters, who took the opportunity to use BB Road as a dance floor complete with flashing lights and honking horns.
“I am very excited to be part of the tsunami... I have been preparing for this event for the last two days... the residents of Rawalpindi want real change,” said Ali Akhtar, another young man.
Less enthused were the trader’s community of BB Road, who expressed concern over the loss of potential revenue when nobody could get to the shops.
“Traders on Murree Road always suffer because whenever there is a procession in Liaquat Bagh, we must shut up shop because the roads are impassable,” said trader Ajmal Sheikh.
However, pushcart food and knick-knack vendors seemed to be doing well, as stranded commuters bought their wares to pass time.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 28th, 2012.
The first-ever Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) show of power in the garrison city generated enthusiasm among party supporters but chaos on the roads, as traffic on Benazir Bhutto Road formerly known as Murree Road, was completely paralysed.
In Islamabad too, a PTI procession consisting of about 20 vans and cars partially blocked the flow of traffic on Kashmir Highway.
Thousand of PTI activists started flocking Liaquat Bagh at around 5pm, carrying banners, waving party flags and flaunting photos of party chief Imran Khan, though the proceedings did not begin until 7pm. Most of those in participants were brought in buses and wagons from Attock, Murree, Wah Cantt and Rawalpindi Division, along with substantial number of people travelling from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
Vehicular traffic on the road itself was blocked from Mareer Chowk to Chandni Chowk for many hours by young enthusiasts.
“I think this is the right time to show people power… We (the youth) have to prove we can bring change by voting for Imran Khan,” said a group of enthusiastic young locals.
Both sides of BB Road were packed with huge crowed and people from all walks of life, including youngsters, old people and women. Many young motorcycle enthusiasts were seen doing wheelie through a sea of vehicles decorated with PTI flags and posters of Khan.
“This is a great time to try some stunts as the police are too busy to run after us,” said motorcyclist Hammad, as the flag on his bike hovered behind him.
Unfortunately, for those who were not out to have a good time, access to the city’s two biggest hospitals, Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) and Holy Family Hospital (HFH), was near impossible.
“My daughter is admitted in BBH. She will miss her medication due to the traffic mess, all because I am stuck here with her medicine,” Imtiaz Khalid fumed in his car with a bag of medicine on the passenger seat. The roads should have been cleared for commuters because there is no other way to get to the hospital,” the frustrated Khalid said.
The long queues were formed in part because of throngs of dancing youngsters, who took the opportunity to use BB Road as a dance floor complete with flashing lights and honking horns.
“I am very excited to be part of the tsunami... I have been preparing for this event for the last two days... the residents of Rawalpindi want real change,” said Ali Akhtar, another young man.
Less enthused were the trader’s community of BB Road, who expressed concern over the loss of potential revenue when nobody could get to the shops.
“Traders on Murree Road always suffer because whenever there is a procession in Liaquat Bagh, we must shut up shop because the roads are impassable,” said trader Ajmal Sheikh.
However, pushcart food and knick-knack vendors seemed to be doing well, as stranded commuters bought their wares to pass time.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 28th, 2012.