Road blocks in Lahore, Rawalpindi leave two dead

RAWALPINDI/LAHORE: Two people lost their lives due to the massive traffic jams created by the protest rallies of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in Lahore and Pakistan Awami Tehreek and Awami Muslim League in Rawalpindi on Saturday.

The citizens of Islamabad and Rawalpindi once again witnessed a ‘barricaded day’ on Saturday as all tributaries and service roads leading to the main roads of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, including the Islamabad Expressway and Benazir Bhutto (Murree) Road, were blocked with containers in a bid to avert any adventurist march towards the capital city. City dwellers, as well as people visiting the twin cities, kept searching for alternate routes to reach their destinations.

Security remained on a high alert and large contingents of police and law enforcement officials remained on alert to avert any untoward incident. Approximately 4,000 police personnel including Rangers and Police commandos were deployed at exit and entry points of the capital.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Pakistan Awami Tehreek and Awami Muslim League rallies halted public movement and city administration was left with no other option but to barricade the roads leading towards the Benazir Bhutto Road (Murree Road) and Islamabad Expressway.

Rallies, protests and sit-ins during the last few years in the twin cities are arranged as a routine to build pressure on the government but contrary to this, it is the people of the twin cities who have to face the brunt of these rallies and sit-ins. Traffic on the Murree Road was diverted to linked roads, which also witnessed heavy traffic mess. The Metro Bus Service remained suspended for the entire day and the people had to walk miles.

Police and Rangers were deployed at the Islamabad Expressway and law enforcement officials guided the people to take alternate routes. Rescue officials also revealed that a female patient visiting from Gujrat could not reach the Holy Family Hospital owing to massive rush created by the rallies. As a result, she died before she could be provided any medical aid and help.

In Lahore, an infant died as a result of road blockage at Shahdara while his parents were transporting him to hospital. A 10-month-old toddler lost his life in his father’s hands while fighting for life in a rickshaw as the Punjab Police did not allow the family to take their child to hospital.

A rickshaw from Shahdara was carrying the sick child and approaching nearby hospital in Lahore but the containers blocking the roads for the Imran Khan rally kept the patient from reaching his destination. Even the parents and relative of the sick child pleaded for the safe passage to hospital but the police did not let them cross the blockade.

“Jammed traffic caused my son’s death,” cried the helpless father. The father of the toddler said that his son died due to politicians and he would never forgive them for the loss.

It is pertinent to mention here that all the major roads of Lahore have been closed by the district government following the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s Ehtesab rally. Residents living in various parts of the city suffered from difficulties due to blockade of roads in the city by the Punjab government to stop the PTI rally.