All plans and arrangements made by the Traffic Department for the grand marathon turned out to be useless as traffic turned into a mess on the day of the grand marathon, exposing runners to a great danger. Traffic flow was seen going from the Liberty junction towards the Sherpao Bridge on the wrong side of the road which was the same road allotted for the Fun Family Race. The Fun Family Race had started from Saddique Trade Centre and was to end at Liberty Roundabout. Traffic, however, took the one way from the Liberty Round About to Saddiq Trade Centre head on to the people participating in the Fun Family Race.
The traffic was also blocked as the participants and the traffic flow came face to face opposite Hafeez Centre.
According to the press release issued by the Traffic Department by the new Lahore Chief Traffic Officer, Sarfaraz Ahmed Falki, a heavy contingent of traffic managers had been placed on all the racing tracks to divert the traffic from the route.
The CTO’s statement clearly stated that “No bike rider or even pedestrian is allowed on the race track.”
The statement issued by the CTO claimed to have chalked out a comprehensive traffic plan to ensure smooth flow of traffic on the eve of Family Fun Race and Marathon Race on Sunday. It further said these races had been set to take place at Qaddafi Stadium and its adjoining areas of Gulberg and Model Town. According to the spokesman, 11 DSPs, 15 inspectors and 398 wardens were to discharge their duty under the supervision of two SPs on this occasion. He further said seven ordinary parking stands had been established near Punjab Sports Boards for the vehicles of participants and families.
Two SPs, six DSPs, nine inspectors and 275 traffic wardens had been deputed to regulate the traffic.
The route to be taken was Siddique Centre towards Fountain Chowk, Origa Chowk, K-Chowk, Gulberg Center and Liberty Roundabout. Similarly, Marathon Race was to start from Qaddafi Stadium towards Kalma Chowk, Signal Jevan Hana, R/O Barkat Market, New Campus Bridge, Underpass Gulzaar Bridge, Underpass Ichra, Underpass FC
Bridge, Underpass Jail Road, Underpass Mall Road, u-turn from Sultan Point to Canal, FC to Zahoor Elahi Road, Haali Chowk, Chin One Chowk and was to conclude at the small Qaddafi Roundabout.
“We had traffic coming at us while running the race,” Asma and Sabeen who were participating in the Fun Family Race, said, adding “we then stepped out of it because we were confused.” “We were left behind but when we saw the traffic flow coming towards us we though that we somehow we were not on the track any more,” they said.
Despite many attempts the CTO could not be reached in this regard.
PROTEST: On the other hand, The Fidayan-e-Khatam-e-Nabowat Pakistan had staged a protest against women participating in the marathon held on Sunday near Shadmaan Junction. About 50 to 75 men, holding placards against the participation of women in races, appeared around mid day. The protesters were hold placards with acute slogans stating “if women can’t run on Safa Marva the why are they made to run on the streets?” The protesters also shouted slogans against American agents and denounced the ‘traditions of the west.’
According to the witnesses the protesters remained for 2 hours after which they left.
