Regarding the valiant obstruction of peaceful demonstrations by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the local government in Rawalpindi has taken some serious precautions to maintain peace. The local government has imposed section 144 in Rawalpindi Amid Protests, and several Key locations and roads have been under lock and key thanks to security containers.
Security Measures in Rawalpindi
The rationale behind ordering Section 144, in this case, is that suppose four people will become too many, and they are very well aware that dispersion, no matter what is mandatory for any large protests of the PTI nature, to say the least. To make matters worse, authorities have strategically placed containers outside Liaquat Bagh, a political activity hub, to block the entry points. They have sealed off Ward XX of the Liaquat Bagh gate using chicken mesh, barricades, and barbed wire. Authorities have taken several precautions in response to growing regional political tensions. They have also barricaded Murree Road, one of the city’s major transport routes, by positioning containers at intervals, cutting off access to Liaquat Bagh and its surrounding areas. These vehicular barriers are proving to be quite a challenge to employ for both travelers to and from work and the business community.
Road closures and how such restrictions affect the daily activities of people
Reports indicate that authorities have blocked Murree Road at the Faizabad Interchange by placing large containers, which has brought traffic to a standstill. Commuters heading to work in Rawalpindi and nearby areas face significant hardships in reaching their workplaces. The disruption has also affected businesses, as restricted goods operations have irritated many traders.
Additionally, authorities have partially banned mobile services in Rawalpindi to prevent the organization of widespread protests via cell phones and social media. This decision will likely frustrate the city’s residents, who rely on mobile phones for both business and social purposes, as it disrupts their daily routines
Metrobus System Outage Rawalpindi Amid Protests
Masses also avoid using public modes of transport due to the protests. The metro bus service, which runs from Saddar Station in Rawalpindi to the I J Principal Station, has been called off, entirely stranding many passengers. Nonetheless, moving around Islamabad, the metro bus service from the IJ Principal Station to the Pakistan Secretariat is still operating, making some movements around the capital possible.
Therefore, this suspension has placed a heavy burden, especially on those who rely on public means to move from one point to another within the city. Other factors, such as road closures and partial suspension of mobile services, have also adversely affected the movement of people within the city.
Traffic Blockages Beyond Rawalpindi
The road blockages have caused significant inconvenience, and their impact extends beyond Rawalpindi. At Ghora Gali, 50 kilometers from the city, authorities have used trucks to barricade the road. Additionally, they have blocked the Murree Motorway to general traffic, creating major disruptions for residents. The closures to and from the hill station have also halted freight traffic.
Citizens Stranded in Murree Rawalpindi Amid Protests
This has also caused the closure of the critical routes connecting Murree and Islamabad, leaving many citizens stranded in Murree and unable to leave the hill station. Quite predictably, this deficit of alternative routes provided by the Murree Traffic Police had got only worse.
Such abrupt road closures, which cut off almost all access to the residents and long distances to the centers, have resulted in a particularly explosive atmosphere in the area. People are experiencing postponements, monetary losses, and great chaos regarding the expected state of normalcy returns to the area.
Conclusion
The precautions imposed in Rawalpindi and its environs, given PTI demonstrations, started affecting ordinary citizens to a great reproductive scope. From closing roads to shutting down mobile services and suspending public transport, the situation has brought huge inconveniences to travelers, business people, and residents. As the political environment thinly hangs, the time frame for such measures is still unclear, considering the prevailing state of local activities.
