COMMITTEE CHOWK
Rawalpindi
People faced numerous problems due to blockage of roads connecting Committee Chowk on Friday. Majority of them particularly motorcyclists and cyclists crossed under the containers to reach their destinations while rest of them including motorists turned to alternate roads.
The Committee Chowk was blocked by containers to stop the supporters of Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, president of Awami Muslim League from holding a public meeting at famous, Lal Haveli.
Local administration had imposed Section 144 in the city to stop the political gathering. A large contingent of anti-riot police was present at Committee Chowk to arrest the violators of section 144. Police fired tear gas and used baton-charge in some areas to disperse Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) and Awami Muslim League (AML) protesters.
Lal Haveli was already blocked with numerous containers, which were also placed at almost all roads connecting the area where the famous building is situated including China Market, Purana Qilla, Iqbal Road, College Road, Fawara Chowk, Sabzi Mandi, Mochi Bazaar, Dhoke Khabba, Waris Khan and Kohati Bazaar. Whereas, people were seen busy in work as usual as shops were open in business hubs like Raja Bazaar and Liaquat Road and stallholders were doing business in Barra, where Juma Bazaar is held every week. Traders did not open their shops in Moti Bazaar due to blockage of Iqbal Road at Trunk Bazaar intersection.
Metro Bus Service (MBS) and majority of private public transport vehicles were off the roads due to blockage of roads. Many patients found it hard to reach hospitals in time due to blockage of roads.
Talking to ‘The News,’ the residents of nearby areas of Committee Chowk said that the blockades paralysed their routine life. “We cannot perform our routine work when all roads are blocked,” they added.
They said that due to uncertainty of situation they did not send their kids to schools and colleges as it becomes difficult for them to pick and drop them in case of blockage of roads.