Break the blockade: Protesters evade blockades, sneak into federal capital

Free hand from K-P government, evasive tactics allow activists to cross Punjab border.

HARIPUR: Hundreds of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) workers from Hazara have reportedly succeeded in entering Islamabad ahead of the Azadi March, in spite of blockades at entry points to Punjab.

The Punjab government, in its bid to keep a check on activists from both parties, blocked access to Jari Kass entry point on GT Road by placing containers. However, PAT workers told The Express Tribune, that both parties’ members from Hazara took advantage of the K-P government’s free hand, marched on to Jari Kass and managed to sneak through the small corridor left open for regular passengers.

The PTI and PAT supporters strategically reached the entry point in small groups to avoid detection by heavy contingents of police. Checkpoints have proved to be a nightmare for people as their journeys keep getting considerably delayed.

Circuitous routes

Talking to The Express Tribune, the former Mansehra district president for PAT, Dr Ehtesham Khan urged activists to avoid detection at all costs.

“I travelled to Lahore with dozens of party workers via GT Road from Mansehra to Rawalpindi. From there, we took the Daewoo bus service to Lahore,” said Khan. Around 200 workers travelled simultaneously on different coaches to avoid detection. The workers will join the rallies in Lahore and then proceed to Islamabad.

Khan said those workers who can be easily identified used the hilly route from Neela Bhoto to Daman-e-Koh, close to the border of Abbottabad and Haripur districts.

Observers have said the K-P police did little to stop PTI and PAT workers in buses and vans which facilitated their access to the federal capital.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 14^th,2014.