Rawalpindi:
In view of a possible protest by Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan in Rawalpindi, the police and district administration have once again turned the city into a container city.
Under strict security arrangements, 37 locations, including the city's entrances and exits, have been declared blocking points and containers, trawlers, and other obstacles have been erected.
Dozens of important highways, including Murree Road, Faizabad, Moti Mahal Chowk, Shamsabad, Dhok Kala Khan, IJP Road, Pandora Chungi, Khanna Pul and Chak Madad, are completely closed, while traffic is also suspended on all routes connecting to Islamabad.
Traffic barriers have been set up at several places on GT Road, including Taxila Chowk, Brahma Interchange, Fateh Jang Toll Plaza, Chak Beli Mor, Gujar Khan, Mandra Toll Plaza and Chakwal Mor. Heavy police presence is also present in various areas of the city such as Kalma Chowk, Rahimabad, Gulzar Quaid, Sawan Pul and Adiala Road.
More than 6,000 officers and soldiers deployed
According to the police, a total of more than 6,000 officers and men have been deployed in the city to deal with any untoward incident. 37 pickets have been set up in all police stations and circles, where officers equipped with riot control equipment are on duty.
Police personnel have been banned from carrying firearms, with only officers of the SP level and above being armed. The rest of the force has been provided with tear gas guns, rubber bullets and 12-bore guns.
Command and control
CPO Khalid Hamdani is personally responsible for command and control. 13 special police teams and rooftop duties have also been deployed on Murree Road from Shalimar Chowk to Faizabad. A ban has been imposed on gatherings, processions and gatherings in the city for 4 days under Section 144, while pillion riding on motorcycles has also been banned.
Metro service suspended in twin cities
The Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metro Bus service is completely suspended and police forces are deployed at all stations. On the other hand, citizens, office workers and students are facing severe difficulties due to the closure of the routes.
Mobile internet service is also down in the twin cities, however, traffic is running normally in the inner areas of the cantonment.
Mobile phone service completely shut down
In view of the call for the Al-Aqsa March by Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan, mobile phone service has been completely shut down in the federal capital since last night under strict security arrangements in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, causing severe hardship to citizens.
Heavy police force has been deployed on all major highways connecting the twin cities. Only one lane has been opened for traffic on the Islamabad Highway and the lower part of the Faizabad Flyover, while severe traffic jams were witnessed on service roads due to obstructions on the main highways.
Citizens are in serious trouble.
The traffic police have not been able to make effective arrangements for alternative routes or guidance, which is causing severe difficulties for people going to schools, offices, and other places.
The situation is more serious in Rawalpindi, where Murree Road and all the minor and major roads adjacent to it have been completely sealed. Most of the educational institutions in the city have been closed while attendance in offices was non-existent. Normal proceedings in the courts were also affected and attendance of litigants, accused and lawyers was low. Hearing of several cases was adjourned with only attendance. The district court was also empty by 9:30 am.
Patients, office goers, and motorcyclists faced severe hardship due to the closure of roads, while people coming from out of town were also inconvenienced due to the closure of Rawat, T-Chowk, and the motorway.
Hotels, shops and banks closed
Similarly, all shops, hotels and restaurants on both sides of Murree Road have been closed and the police have taken control by vacating the metro bus service stations. Prisoner vehicles have been taken to Murree Hassan, Liaquat Bagh, Chandni Chowk, Committee Chowk and Faizabad, while the accused from Adiala Jail have not been produced in the courts.
Fear of clashes
Police personnel have been deployed around metro stations and Murree Road. There are fears that there may be a clash between police and Tehreek-e-Labbaik activists on Murree Road after Friday prayers.
Women, children, passengers, and passersby are severely affected by the closure of roads and streets, while ambulances are also facing difficulty in passing.
The road from Rawalpindi to Faizabad has been completely sealed, while the closure of Murree Road has led to heavy traffic pressure on Rawalpindi's alternative roads. The streets are crowded with motorcycles and rickshaws, and it has become difficult for citizens to even step out of their homes. In addition, all banks and financial institutions located on Murree Road have also been closed.
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