Lahore, twin cities partially shut down as govt braces for protests
Authorities have suspended the Metro Bus service in Rawalpindi and blocked roads in Islamabad and Lahore as the government braces for protests organised separately by a banned outfit and Opposition parties in the abovementioned cities.
A day earlier, the Ministry of Interior had written to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to suspend internet services in various areas of Lahore due to a banned outfit's protest.
The provincial government subsequently suspended internet services around Multan Road, Grand Battery Stop, Iqbal Town, Nawankot, Samanabad and Sabzazar areas of Lahore.
Containers have also been placed at various points in Lahore, such as the Samanabad turn at Multan Road and at the Grid Station Stop. Containers have also been placed at the Dubai Chowk in Iqbal Town's Boulevard area to thwart protesters' attempts at assembling. Police have placed containers on the entry and exit points of the city.
Lahore's traffic flow has also been adversely affected after various arteries of the city have been sealed by authorities. Meanwhile, Islamabad Traffic Police have also issued a traffic plan (read below) as the city braces to deal with protests today. Stringent security measures have been taken in Rawalpindi, where authorities have suspended the Metro Bus service and blocked its surrounding roads.
Authorities have also blocked several roads in the city's inner areas. Containers have been placed on the Sixth Road leading to the Faizabad area while the Faizabad Ojri Camp road has also been sealed off.
The city's administration has said that the Metro Bus will only operate from the IJP Road Stop to the Pakistan Secretariat while it will remain suspended from Saddar to Faizabad. People from all walks of life are facing difficulties in arriving at their offices. Patients from far-off areas are also encountering difficulties in reaching hospitals as authorities have sealed major arteries in the city.
Multiple ambulances are stuck Murree Road as the road has been sealed by containers. A patient who was to be shifted to PIMS from the Benazir Bhutto Hospital were extremely worried after getting stranded at Murree Road.
His family members said the patient is suffering from kidney and liver ailments. Even schoolchildren are forced to walk to their schools, with backpacks slung over their shoulders due to the roads being sealed. The Islamabad administration has beefed up security measures to deal with the banned outfit's intended long march to the city. The city's traffic police have called on citizens to use the 9th Avenue and for those who want to traveI to Rawalpindi from Faizabad, to use the IJP Road.
"Faizul Islam Stop, Murree Road have been closed for traffic," said an ICT spokesperson. "Those who intend to travel from Islamabad to the Murree Road should instead take the Islamabad Highway." The Jinnah Avenue road from Express Chowk to D-Chowk has been sealed.