Life at the dharna: Marchers travelled in artfully decorated buses

ISLAMABAD:

The Inqilab and Azadi marches in Islamabad have drawn people from diverse walks of life. Whether they originate from the fertile plains of Punjab or the mountainous areas of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the protesters have shown considerable enthusiasm over the prospect of positive change in the country.

According to sources, the participants arrived at the protests in vehicles that have been beautifully decorated for the occasion. Several people were clad in traditional dresses to stand out amid a crowd of passionate supporters.

Furthermore, some participants have also decorated their vehicles with a fascinating array of artwork and designs.

Anees Anjum, who is the owner of a Bedford bus from Chowk Azam in Punjab, revealed that a group of participants from Mirpur booked his vehicle to participate in the protests.

“They liked my vehicle and paid me extra for travelling from Chowk Azam to Mirpur,” he said, adding that such private bookings can be rather expensive.

Another bus-owner named Abid drove his Bedford bus from Jhelum to attend the protests. The bus has been decorated with brilliant works of art. The colourful reflectors, round mirrors, chains and thin sticker work instantly attract the attention of onlookers.

The participation of enthusiastic supporters has added a touch of vitality to the protests and augmented the struggle for a transparent system of democracy.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 30^th, 2014.