Islamabad: Fear keeps people away from recreational spots

[Naveed Yaseen]

by Noor Aftab
Pleasant weather conditions seem inadequate to attract handsome number of visitors to the recreational spots in the face of growing fear and uncertainty that have gripped the minds of the people after extra ordinary security measures taken by the government to thwart any untoward incident in the federal capital.

Deserted carpeted roads leading towards popular evening spots like Daman-e-Koh and Pir Sohawa on weekend and weekly holiday broadly portrays the disinterest of the people in recreational activities.

Parking areas of picnic spots that were stuffed with thousands of vehicles on the third and last day of Eid are going to turn into few-vehicle zones if the present tense environment continues in the coming days.

“The residents of the twin cities have the ability to arrest the depression with renewed and un-compromised spirit for fun and entertainment,” said Izhar Naqvi, a resident of Sector G-6, adding when the government itself was giving an impression of war-like situation then who would dare to run a risk to his or her life just for a few moments of entertainment at the picnic spots.

He said the government should give some hope to the people instead of further injecting fear in their minds with repeated predictions of more possible suicide attacks.

Islamabad Zoo that usually receives around 2,000 visitors on weekly holiday witnessed record low number this week apparently due to reluctance of parents to bring their children to public places.

Tariq Janjua, a resident of Sector I-8, said he was not a pessimistic but the prevailing situation required of him to avoid going to crowded places with his family members.

“Parents are for sure always concerned about their children and I don’t think that it is a bad idea to stay indoors unless the overall situation in the city comes to normal,” he said.

Janjua said he read some reports stating that the government officials have been asked to limit their activities, adding if they were not feeling safe let alone the general public.

Many of the people pointed out that the main reason behind this uncertainty might be the consistent statements being given by important government functionaries about possibilities of terrorist attacks especially in the federal capital.

Nasim Haider, a resident of Sector I-10 whose car was being searched by policemen at the entry point near the Islamabad Zoo, said he came with his family to visit the Zoo keeping in view the fact that these kinds of public spots designated especially for children were not targeted in the terrorist attacks in the past.

“It is very clear by the way the local administration has been making security arrangements that all is not good and there may be potential threats for more terrorist attacks,” he said.

One may present a fact, though not appropriate on the face of it, that changing weather conditions and post-Eid weekends, when people feel not so excited, are the main factors of reduced crowds at the picnic spots.

A short car drive from Aabpara to the Secretariat makes one easily understand why are the people not willing to go for entertainment because how can they enjoy the serene environment of this beautiful city amidst barbed wires and consistent fear of something untoward going to happen.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=140791