Lockdown: Residents caught between containers, marchers

Public transport, businesses and government offices remain shut amid PTI and PAT sit-ins.

ISLAMABAD: Residents of Islamabad continue to suffer a virtual lockdown of the capital because of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) sit-ins.

Daily commuters and people coming from other parts of the country are facing problems as most public transport remains off the road. Motorists are also facing traffic jams as a number of roads around the Red Zone remain blocked.

Another reason for the traffic jam was the number of trucks and other goods transport vehicles that have been parked on the sides of IJP Road. The truck drivers say their vehicles could not pass through the space left on one side of the road.

Residents say they have been held hostage by the protests. “We can neither take our vehicles out nor travel in public transport as the roads have been blocked with containers and barricades,” said Muhammad Irfan, a resident of Sector G-9/4.

Traffic wardens, normally plentiful on the roads, have also been absent from many roads in Islamabad. SSP Traffic Asmatullah Junejo said that the traffic wardens were unable to regulate traffic as several roads were blocked with containers. “We cannot ensure smooth traffic flow when a number of points are closed.”

While IJP Road is partially blocked at various points, traffic is moving at a snail’s pace on Murree Road and Kashmir Highway because of construction work on the metro bus project.

Many people either have to hire taxis or walk to their destination within the city.

“We have never seen such chaos on the roads in our neighbourhood,” said Sultan Ali, a resident of Sector G-8. Taxi drivers have entirely different stories to share, as some cabbies are reluctant to enter the federal capital, while others are cashing in on the opportunity by charging through the nose.

“I came to Islamabad after 11 days. Most of my colleagues are reluctant to come here because of the road closures and traffic jams,” said Zubair Satti, a taxi driver. He, however, said that the taxi drivers were doing good business ever since the marches started.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 25^th, 2014.