Driving us mad

The police and other security personnel deployed at check posts in Peshawar have made life miserable for residents of the city. As security checks are carried out, traffic gets held up for hours, causing a great deal of inconvenience. With a growing populace, the dilemma that traffic problems present has already become quite acute in almost all the big cities of Pakistan. The increase in traffic has also increased the number of traffic accidents and our roads are growing dangerous by the day.

Unfortunately, we seem to possess little traffic sense and perhaps, no respect for road rules. Governments all over the country seem to be doing little to prevent traffic jams and other traffic related problems. On top of this, the check posts in Peshawar, often manned by unscrupulous personnel, have had a negative psychological impact on the people. Because of these monstrous and unpopular check posts, traffic jams occur on a regular basis, wasting precious hours. If anyone is heading to the hospital in case of an emergency, then the patient can only turn to the Almighty for mercy.

These check posts have become a great source of nuisance and trouble for the residents and there is no apparent utility and usefulness of having them other than the fact that the lives of the people are made miserable. The masses are facing untold problems but the handlers of these check posts, instead of mitigating the woes of the hapless passers-by, resort to novel ways and means of perpetuating their sufferings. Within the past few days, more restrictions have been imposed to further obstruct the liberty and movement of the people.

The measures show that the rulers are more concerned with their own safety and comfort and are least bothered about the rights of citizens, who have been subjected to problems that have generated ill-will. The citizens are fast becoming fed up with the state of affairs and hence should unite to work for their rights. The K-P government and traffic police department must improve the conditions of roads and ensure smooth traffic flow. The behaviour of personnel deputed at check posts also needs to improve.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 23^rd, 2015.