PTI, PAT sit-ins: Motorists decry evening roadblocks

RAWALPINDI:

Major roads leading to Islamabad have been experiencing traffic jams every evening ever since Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) started its sit-in against the PMLN government.

The authorities block major roads leading to Islamabad as many head to the PTI sit-in on the Constitution Avenue to listen to Imran Khan’s speeches.

The administration on Friday blocked Faizabad, Mandra, Gulzar-i-Quaid, Dhok Hassu, IJ Principal Road and other thoroughfares linking Pindi to Islamabad. The administration placed containers on the airport road.

Muhammad Faizan, a resident of Satellite Town, told The Express Tribune that this was a reactionary behavior of the government to build a public opinion against the sit-ins by PTI and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT). He said this could go against the government in this charged political environment.

He added that it has become a routine over the last few days that all the main roads leading to Islamabad are closed in the evening.

Muzzammil Shahid, another local, said the government should not curtail liberties in the name of security. He said the objective of the roadblocks is to prevent people from reaching the PTI sit-in at D-Chowk.

Another motorist, however, said the government was well within its right to take preventive measures against security threats. He said the buck for all this trouble rests with PTI and PAT, which broke their promises of not entering the Red Zone.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 23^rd, 2014.