Islamabad’s newest siege has people fuming

[Naveed Yaseen]

By Imran Naeem Ahmad
ISLAMABAD: It all seems too convenient for the authorities to shut down roads to thwart terror yet what the people have to go through as a result is given no consideration.

While the entire town remains under siege, more so the Red Zone, the latest blockade has been that of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Headquarters at Peshawar Mor.

In this light, it comes as no surprise that again it are the residents and the business community who are being made to suffer. As if the prolonged load shedding and inflation were not enough, the locals now find pickets and barricades staring them in the face wherever they go.

However, in this instance the traders operating just behind the FIA building have in particular been at the receiving end. For the third day running, they have sat through with no customers in sight.

Often a busy market place with a string of restaurants and hardware shops, this section was cordoned off in the wake of terror threats. But closing down this road to traffic and others nearby, has left the traders fuming.

Waheed Khan, an official at one of the popular restaurants told Daily Times that their customers had started eating elsewhere for there was no parking space because of the new security measures. “Business has slumped as much as 70 percent,” he pointed out.

With people being asked to park their vehicles well away from the shops, the customers have instead opted to shop and dine elsewhere. “Many of those coming here drive away on seeing the barricades,” said Khan.

Each day the number of such blockades around town has appeared to increase which continues to greatly annoy the people. “This isn’t our city, it seems,” remarked an angry trader who claimed the authorities had no concern whatsoever for “our livelihoods”.

Officials at the FIA said that it was not known how long the ‘siege’ of their headquarters would continue. “At this point I cannot say when these roads would be opened,” said an official.

Although people on foot are allowed access to the street behind the FIA offices, the area immediately in front of the building is a complete no-no for the public. The road running alongside that used to bear a heavy load of traffic now wears a deserted look.

Tariq Mehmood, who runs a garments shop at Peshawar Mor, said that already business was not too good because of security concerns and this new blockade had hit them real bad. “Most of our customers are women but in such a situation, they either stay home or opt to shop at some other market,” he said.

Apart from the shopkeepers, the cabbies too have suffered for there were fewer people coming to the Peshawar Mor taxi stand. “We picked passengers from this point and returned here for more but everything has gone quiet for the last three days,” said Hameed Khan.

Clearly there is a sense of anger among the people as well as the traders who are waiting for the siege to end. When would this be, no one knows.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...008_pg11_3