Barriers erected by private owners in Sector G-9 deny ‘right of way’ to residents, passersby

The Sector G-9 of Islamabad displays a dismal, insecure picture as dozens of barriers erected by private individuals welcome passersby when they enter the sector.

One can witness these barriers erected on both the entry and exit points of many streets, blocking the right of way to residents and those who need to pass through them during commute.

Some two years back, these barriers were erected to counter the rising incidents of mobile snatching and other robberies. The residents after finding the police disinterested took matters in their own hands and hired private guards and placed these barriers to stall the mobile snatchers and petty robbers. The residents in this manner tried to mimic the ‘gated community’ concept that is offered by ace land developers in Pakistan. The security guards started to inquire every commuter about their identity and where they are headed.

The security guards are ordered to close the barriers after 10pm and allow no one to enter or exit without checking. This act raised many eyebrows in the vicinity and the Capital Development Authority (CDA) took action on complaints and pulled down some barriers but the operation was an eyewash and stopped after tearing just a couple of barriers.

These barriers have been impeding the movement of many residents for years now. Many of the guards are absent from their posts as some left their jobs and others come and go on their own will, many residents close the barriers at night only to be opened next morning. The dwellers have to take long routes while navigating their way around the sector at night, which in case of emergency can have dire consequences.

“These barriers were put in place because the increasing incidents of mobile snatching and robberies. The residents have filed many complaints with police but to no avail. Finally, as a last resort action, we all pooled in to have them erected and hired private security guards. But since then, many guards left and many barriers became defunct because of no one mounting them. The CDA took action couple of months back and razed a couple of them but then it stopped. We request the police and law enforcement agencies to take action in this regard and keep an eye on robberies and mobile snatching,” said a resident of G-9 who wished to remain anonymous.