JI women's wing protest stalls traffic, businesses

The sit-in by Jamaat-i-Islami at Liaquat Bagh Chowk on Murree Road on Saturday evening and its march towards Faizabad caused severe traffic disruption across the city, as containers and barriers were placed at various points, blocking roads. The traffic system on Murree Road, the city's main artery, as well as other congested roads and commercial areas, including Rawal Road, Liaquat Road, Fawara Chowk, Gowalmandi Road, Murrir Chowk, China Market, Iqbal Road and Kacheri Road, remained completely jammed from 1pm till late at night. Ambulances and other vehicles stuck in the congestion were forced to move at a snail's pace. The traffic gridlock also brought wholesale markets, bazaars and commercial activities across the city to a complete standstill. Movement on routes leading to educational institutions also became difficult, while walking in the morning proved troublesome. Traffic police and wardens remained absent throughout the day after containers were placed and roads were blocked. The traffic jam prompted motorcyclists and pushcart vendors to start using both sides of the roads, resulting in arguments and disputes as the roads became blocked. The Jamaat-i-Islami had organised a sit-in by its women's wing at Liaquat Bagh Chowk and a march from the chowk to Faizabad. Police blocked routes leading to the area, including Arya Mohalla Road, China Market, Gowalmandi Road and Murrir Chowk, by placing containers, paralysing traffic throughout the day. The closure of Murree Road also adversely affected alternative routes, including Rawal Road, Tipu Road, Dhok Khabba Road, Dhok Elahi Bakhsh Road, Iqbal Road, China Market Road, College Road and Kacheri Road. These roads became congested as traffic from across the city was diverted onto them. The resulting congestion also spilled into streets in these areas as cars and motorcycles entered narrow lanes, disrupting movement there as well. Shopkeepers in markets and commercial centres in all these areas remained idle throughout the day. Students faced severe difficulties when schools closed, as traffic jams developed outside educational institutions. Pick-and-drop vehicles carrying children were also caught in the congestion. Meanwhile, vendors selling paan, cigarettes, groceries, juices, corn and other items around Liaquat Bagh benefited from the sit-in and made brisk business. Traders of Murree Road, Rawalpindi's oldest and central thoroughfare, have demanded that the road be kept free of protests and sit-ins. Rawalpindi traders' association leaders Pervez Khan, Shaukat Ali, Riaz Gujjar and Faizan Akhtar said peaceful protest was everyone's right, but such activities should be held away from commercial centres and main thoroughfares. They demanded that the government and district administration designate a place and time for protests across the city and establish a protest ground where anyone could hold demonstrations or strikes.