Reports of crackdowns: Anxiety reigns in twin cities
Section 144 imposed in Pindi till Sunday midnight.
ISLAMABAD:
Fear and uncertainty again gripped residents of the capital on Saturday after police launched a crackdown against the sit-in participants and started blocking all major entry routes to the city.
Workers of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) were picked up for allegedly being involved in the attack at the PTV headquarters around two weeks ago as well as for violation of Section 144 of the Pakistan Penal Code which was imposed by the district administration a few days ago.
Most roads wore a deserted look after news spread of PTI workers’ protest at F-8 Markaz which also houses the local courts against the arrest of party workers. People were sacred to go out from their homes as they fear the situation could swing either way anytime and result in a clash between police and party workers.
News of road blockades makes the situation worse, causing people to consult each other or the internet to ascertain what route to take.
Similarly, massive traffic jams were experienced in Rawalpindi owing to the placement of containers at odd points in the city.
Moreover, on Saturday, security of the capital was beefed up and police, rangers, and other law enforcing agencies’ personnel could be seen deployed and patrolling on the capital’s roads. Talking to The Express Tribune, Naeem Iqbal, the spokesman for the Islamabad Police, said around 30,000 officials of the police, rangers and Frontier Constabulary have been deployed in the capital in light of fresh security alerts.
Meanwhile, the number of policemen at various check posts has also increased and walkthrough gates have been installed at the majority of entry and exit points leading to the Constitution Avenue, he further informed.
After over a month of sit-ins in the capital and recurring news of ‘impending crackdowns’ on the protesters in Red Zone, capital’s residents feel like hostages in their hometown.
“It has become difficult to live in peace as everyday we wake up to hear news about the protest, which usually forces us to stay at home rather than going out to get in trouble,” said Saad Hassan, a resident of Sector G-6/3.
He said every moment they have a feeling that something bad is about to happen.
A shopkeeper in Blue Area said, “It has been a month now that we have been passing through severe stress and fear. And today the news about the protest of PTI workers at F-8 Markaz is making us feel more insecure and we fear more clashes in the capital.”
On the other hand, Section 144 was imposed in Rawalpindi late Friday night till Sunday midnight after an intelligence report of a terrorist attack in the district, according to Sajid Zafar Dal, the District Coordination Officer of Rawalpindi.
Under this section, the assembly of four or more persons, carrying of weapons and use of loudspeakers has been prohibited followed by a ban on pillion riding.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 14th, 2014.
Fear and uncertainty again gripped residents of the capital on Saturday after police launched a crackdown against the sit-in participants and started blocking all major entry routes to the city.
Workers of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) were picked up for allegedly being involved in the attack at the PTV headquarters around two weeks ago as well as for violation of Section 144 of the Pakistan Penal Code which was imposed by the district administration a few days ago.
Most roads wore a deserted look after news spread of PTI workers’ protest at F-8 Markaz which also houses the local courts against the arrest of party workers. People were sacred to go out from their homes as they fear the situation could swing either way anytime and result in a clash between police and party workers.
News of road blockades makes the situation worse, causing people to consult each other or the internet to ascertain what route to take.
Similarly, massive traffic jams were experienced in Rawalpindi owing to the placement of containers at odd points in the city.
Moreover, on Saturday, security of the capital was beefed up and police, rangers, and other law enforcing agencies’ personnel could be seen deployed and patrolling on the capital’s roads. Talking to The Express Tribune, Naeem Iqbal, the spokesman for the Islamabad Police, said around 30,000 officials of the police, rangers and Frontier Constabulary have been deployed in the capital in light of fresh security alerts.
Meanwhile, the number of policemen at various check posts has also increased and walkthrough gates have been installed at the majority of entry and exit points leading to the Constitution Avenue, he further informed.
After over a month of sit-ins in the capital and recurring news of ‘impending crackdowns’ on the protesters in Red Zone, capital’s residents feel like hostages in their hometown.
“It has become difficult to live in peace as everyday we wake up to hear news about the protest, which usually forces us to stay at home rather than going out to get in trouble,” said Saad Hassan, a resident of Sector G-6/3.
He said every moment they have a feeling that something bad is about to happen.
A shopkeeper in Blue Area said, “It has been a month now that we have been passing through severe stress and fear. And today the news about the protest of PTI workers at F-8 Markaz is making us feel more insecure and we fear more clashes in the capital.”
On the other hand, Section 144 was imposed in Rawalpindi late Friday night till Sunday midnight after an intelligence report of a terrorist attack in the district, according to Sajid Zafar Dal, the District Coordination Officer of Rawalpindi.
Under this section, the assembly of four or more persons, carrying of weapons and use of loudspeakers has been prohibited followed by a ban on pillion riding.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 14th, 2014.