Fear grips Islamabad amid Qadri supporters’ sit-in

Islamabad

Residents of capital city, especially those living close to the Red Zone, stayed in the grip of fear and anxiety throughout the day as the sit-in of Mumtaz Qadri supporters continued at D Chowk on Monday.

There were no phone signals throughout the day in the areas around D Chowk. All roads from China Chowk to Parliament House were blocked with heavy deployment of police. Surveillance of the area by police, rangers and army helicopters continued throughout the day. “Sounds of speeches and sirens of police vehicles kept us awake all night. We feared action by the government anytime. The situation is still the same,” said one resident of government quarters near D Chowk.

The residents remained glued to their television sets to get latest update on the Lahore blast and sit-in at the D Chowk. “It is unfortunate that television channels are not very prompt in providing latest information about sit-in. Yesterday, we received the news of protesters coming to Islamabad through social media. There was no news on television to confirm the news. The protest was conformed very late on news channels,” complained Anila, a housewife residing in Sector F-6.

Anila and her family had plans to visit Lake View Park on Sunday but they cancelled the plan after they received information of protesters marching towards Islamabad through Facebook at 3:00 p.m. “Even at that time, there was no news on television. What if we had left for the park? It would be putting our lives in danger,” she said.

The residents were very disappointed over the attacks of protesters on public property. “The way they have taken out grills around the Metro route and have destroyed the metro station goes to show their distractive approach. It is a great facility for common people. What do they gain with such actions,” said Naeem Shiekh, a businessperson who resides close to D Chowk. 

Though traffic remained thin and attendance in schools was low, but there was business as usual in markets and public and private offices in different sectors of the capital, even in areas close to Red Zone. “The terrorists want to frighten us. It is their defeat that we get back on our feet the very next day. We are not afraid of them and will defeat them,” said a school teacher of a private school, Wasif Rasheed while talking to ‘The News’.

After a Lahore tragedy, it was indeed a sad day for every household which started with the tough decision of sending their family members to schools and offices or not. “We have come across this situation many times during past few years. Every time, we decide to keep following our normal routine as otherwise, it will be like giving up before the terrorists,” said Shaista Perveen, a housewife.

The board examination and school tests continued as usual and food outlets received almost the same number of visitor. “We cannot stop working. Work got affected during PTI sit-in but it never stopped,” said a salesperson at a famous food outlet located in Blue Area.  He hoped that there would not be any operation against protesters. “We hope that the government plans to deal with this small group of people tactfully. If they had to take action, it would have happened last night,” he further said.