Residents fearing violence, blockade starts storing kitchen items

 PTI SHOW ON NOVEMBER 2

Islamabad

Residents of twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi in wake of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf show on November 2, and fearing violence, blockade of roads and closure of markets, have started storing kitchen and other necessary items.

'The News' learnt through a brief survey that people, especially living in Islamabad, have started buying kitchen items like vegetable, meat, chicken etc to store them to avoid skyrocketing prices or shortage during the PTI show on November 2 here.

According to city district government, Rawalpindi Metro Bus Service (MBS) will be suspended on November 2 to avoid any bad incident. The bus service will remain suspend till end of PTI protest here in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

The City Police Officer (CPO) Israr Abbasi said that we will deal protesters according to instructions of higher authorities. We want peace for public at any cost, he said.

According to schedule, PTI will block exit and entrance points of T-Chowk at Rawat, Jhelum Road at Soan, Airport Chowk on Islamabad Expressway, Motorway Chowk at Tarnol, Faizabad Chowk, Murree Expressway, Golra Chowk, Chakri Interchange and several other points.

Rawalpindi-Islamabad Fruit and Vegetable Wholesale Dealers Association (RIFVWDA) Chairman Mudasir Shaikh said that all activities will suspend if PTI closes 16 points. All kinds of vegetables, fruits and particularly lose milk come from other cities, and providing these things to Islamabad residents in a tense situation will not be possible, he said. We have stocked different vegetables and fruits, but it is not possible to keep them for a longer period, he said.

The helpless residents of twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad are under fear of violence from both sides as PTI chief Imran Khan has announced to block capital city from 16 main points to suspend all kind of activities, while the government is planning to resist the protesters. "The situation is going towards violence which was not acceptable for the residents of twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad,” majority of residents said.

“The government and protesters should settle down all issues peacefully in the best interest of public,” Dr Uzma Irfan, a resident of F-6/2, Islamabad said. She said that we faced worst situation during PTI/PAT 'dharna' days here in federal capital, in November-December 2014.

Sadia Khurram, a housewife, said that government and PTI failed to provide peace to us. "We are in the state of fear and panic as November 2 is near when capital city will once again face closure of schools, offices, shortage of food items, price hike and such other problems due to closure of transport," she said. She said, “I am not blaming one of them but blaming both government and PTI because both are failing to consider the peace of public. However, she said, this time I am storing many kitchen items to avoid any problem during the protest.  Ramzan Bakhshi, a daily wager, said that last time PTI staged a ‘dharna for 126 days but it remained without any result except damaging some government and private buildings. He said labours had to suffer due to the ‘dharna’. “Where we should go in this situation,” he asked.

Shazia Murad, a working lady, said that we could not shift from Islamabad as it was not easy. But, it was so difficult to see violence, face tear gas, baton-charge or fire on each others during protests.

The reliable sources said that thousands of police, ranger and special branch officials will be deployed to 16 points to control situation on November 2. The local managements of Rawalpindi and Islamabad will block entrance points with big containers and barbed wires. The police officials are fully equipped with tear-gas shells and water cannons to check the situation on November 2, the sources said.