Daily Times

LAHORE: Despite the all toll claims by the Punjab government, police and other concerned departments to provide safe environment and better facilities to the citizens but residents of Lahore are facing financial and mentally torture due to several protests daily basis on the city roads.

The provincial metropolis had witnessed massive traffic blocked for last couple of months on all important roads as well as its surrounding areas due to protests held by doctors, nurses, farmers, teachers, transgenders, APCA, pharmacist, civil society, students, lawyers, political parties, religious parties, minorities and others for their rights and demands against the government and other departments.

According to the police records, at least 550 protests, rallies, sit-ins and other protest activities had held on important city roads daily basis during first four and half months in current year. Citizens had faced severe traffic problems on city roads during protests, out of 550, around 419 protests held on city roads during said period, 70 protest rallies, 27 sit-ins and 22 strikes held in different areas of the city for their demands.

A senior police officer told the Daily Times that a peaceful protest is right of every one but police are also facing serious problems to maintain law and order situation, maintain traffic flow on roads, security threats, security duties, VIP protocol and so many other duties performed by police officials on daily basis.

He said that police also performed duty near protest venue to maintain traffic flow but the rapid increase in number of protests created problems for citizens as well as for the law enforcers. He said that protesters had damaged the government and private properties during protests while police tried to protect people and controlled that situation peacefully. He said that police had also registered several cases against protesters.

Huge traffic jams were witnessed on The Mall, Jail Road, Davis Road, Allama Iqbal Road, Egerton road, Empress road Meclod road Abbot road and its linking arteries during protest, which created panic among commuters. Traffic on The Mall, Jail Road, Main Boulevard, Davis Road, Allama Iqbal Road, Egerton Raod, Empress Road, GT Road, Mozang Road and adjoining roads had blocked for a number of hours, compounding citizens’ problems.

Citizens said that millions of rupees worth of fuel was being wasted every day of the week, as thousands of vehicles stuck in traffic jams, which seem to be an ever-increasing problem on the main arteries of the provincial capital. The traffic jam starts at peak hours due to starting and closing hours of educational and other institutions.

In this situation, ambulances carrying emergencies had also stuck in the traffic jam while the commuters had to face a lot of troubles for hours to move from one place to another.

On the issue, the victim’s relatives and other Effectees of the traffic jam while talking to Daily Times said that the police should have devised a diversion plan to facilitate the citizens. They strongly criticised the provincial government and traffic wardens for not performing well to manage these situations effectively.