LAHORE – Traffic remained congested in the city owing to rallies organised by Jamat-ud-Dawa, a banned religious outfit, and Jamat-e-Islami on Saturday. The Mall and its adjoining roads were closed for the general public before the rallies’ commencement. Jamat-ud-Dawa workers took hold of The Mall on the preceding night to hang their banners and flags.
Rallies started from the Nasir Bagh and headed to the Faisal Square, where both rallies turned into a congregation. Roads connecting The Mall and adjoining roads especially Queens Road and the Lawerence Road remained clogged. Traffic routes from Lower Mall, Secretariat, Darbar and Kachehri remained closed for general public, whereas no traffic was allowed from PMG Chowk to the Alhamra, where the police had placed blockades for the rallies’ security.
The routes were closed in the morning and were opened after 5 pm. Traffic Police officials said a public holiday meant low traffic pressure. Citizens had to walk their way and complained about lack of parking facilitys. They said they had to leave their vehicles at risk to reach at the required places. They said the police could not manage parking for the citizens.
A resident of Anarkali said owing to blockades he had to park his motorcycle some kilometres away from his house. A member of a religious party said the public should be ready to make a minor sacrifice for Kashmiris. The Mall was chosen to convey the message effectively, he said.
