Traffic in Rawalpindi was disrupted at at least four points as PTI’s protests continued for the third day.
PTI workers started pouring in to the main protest camp at Allama Iqbal Park, in Rawalpindi’s Shamsabad early Wednesday. Murree Road has been blocked on both sides by the camp.
Traffic was disrupted at IJP Road near Pirwadhai and near Gulzar-e-Quaid at Old Airport Road. GT Road was blocked at Sarai Kala Chowk, Ratta Shah Margalla and Sawan bridge.
The government has declared November 9 a public holiday for Allama Iqbal’s birth anniversary. This is why school and office traffic was expected to be thin. The Pakistan vs. New Zealand World Cup match would have also kept people glued to their screens at home. The PTI factored this in and Fayaz ul Hassan Chauhan announced that a screen would be set up at the camp at Shamsabad for the T20 World Cup final.
The PTI has been protesting against the attack on Imran Khan since Monday. Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said on Tuesday that there could be clashes between protesters and public if the Police stopped protecting PTI ‘miscreants’.
Islamabad Traffic Police announced alternate routes for people trying to navigate their way around the roadblocks in Rawapindi, saying that many major points such as Faizabad are still open for traffic.
Srinagar Highway, Motorway Link Road, Airport Link Road and Islamabad Expressway are clear for traffic, police said.
Traffic coming to Islamabad from Taxila is being diverted to Srinagar Highway from Chungi No. 26. Faqeer Epi Road and Srinagar Highway can be used by people affected by the roadblock at IJP road. People going to Rawalpindi from Islamabad can use Koral Interchange via Old Airport Road.
