Islamabad’s Hyde Park

Last week, the Islamabad High Court directed the government to designate a specific location for the PTI to hold its protest. This court direction came amidst the backdrop of the PTI’s determination to hold its protest at D-Chowk, which is located in a high security area. In Britain, Hyde Park, London is used for every public agitation or protest.

It may be wise for the CDA and local administration to permanently earmark a particular open space, away from populated areas, for holding protests. This would, of course, be subject to observing the standards, terms, and conditions laid down by the local administration and the law-enforcement agencies. Hopefully, such an initiative may prevent the everyday blocking of main roads with containers, which causes avoidable hardship for the people of the city.

M Sharafat Ali Zia

Islamabad