LAHORE: The politically-motivated workers of the opposition parties dominated the city roads while the roads were full of anti-government banners and the flags of political parties on Wednesday.
Majority of parents did not send their children to schools and colleges near the venue-The Mall, of the joint rally of the opposition. General vehicular traffic was also thin on the roads as people feared opposition and police clashes.
All markets on The Mall such as Hall Road, Naqi Market, Panorama Centre, Beaden Road, Neela Gumbad and Anarkali were closed down and tents were erected on all roads leading to the venue such as Temple Road, Lawrence Road, Queen’s Road, Hall Road and High Court Road.
Opposition workers in buses, cars and on motorcycles were seen dancing and chanting anti-government slogans on the city roads all the day. A large number of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) were seen on the roads in the localities of Model Town, Faisal Town and Garden Town. They were demanding Qisas from Mian Shahbaz Sharif. Before the rally, the workers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) were seen gathered outside the office of Abdul Aleem Khan at Garhi Shahu as well as at the residence of Mian Aslam Iqbal at Samanabad. The workers of Pakistan Muslim League -Q gathered outside Muslim League House on Davis Road.
Long queues of vehicles, including buses were seen parked on Sundar Das Road, The Mall, Queen’s Road, Canal Bank Road and other adjoining roads to The Mall in which workers came to attend the joint opposition’s rally.
The banners with different slogans printed on them and posters were displayed by the PAT, PTI, PPP and PML-Q across the city. The supporters of PTI also established a special camp at its Garden Town office.
Traffic rush was seen at Liberty Chowk, Ravi Road, Gawalmandi, Lahore Press Club, Shadbagh, UET Chowk, Ferozepur Road, Ichhra and other places because of traffic diversion plans of the city police due to the rally.
On the other hand, special security measures were taken in the city and police as well as the vehicles of Rangers were also seen patrolling on the city roads. Dolphin police force was also seen doing snap checking on various roads. Till the filing of this report, no untoward incident was reported anywhere in the city.
