ISLAMABAD (Urdu Times) Public Faces Severe Hardship Amidst Potential Protests

ISLAMABAD (Urdu Times) Residents of the twin cities are facing severe travel disruptions and mental distress due to announcements regarding potential protest demonstrations and “long marches.”

The writ of the government must be evident; imposing strict legal restrictions on city lockdowns and the blocking of highways appears to be the only permanent solution to this long-standing issue.

Establishing the writ of the state and ensuring the rule of law are fundamental necessities for any organized society. When the state loses its writ, the entire system of life becomes paralyzed, and public safety is jeopardized. However, within the current democratic and legal framework, it is crucial to consider the following principles regarding “strict action” and “establishing the writ”:

Fundamental requirements of government writ—action without discrimination: The government’s writ is considered strong only when the law is enforced equally upon everyone. If strict action is taken solely against a specific group or political rivals while another group is given free rein, it is perceived as a political vendetta rather than the enforcement of state authority.

Use of force within constitutional limits: The state has the full right to use force to maintain law and order and clear blocked routes; however, such actions must remain within the bounds of the law and human rights. Indiscriminate baton charges, the excessive use of tear gas, or the arrest of peaceful citizens only serve to fuel public anger.

The administration’s own writ: The government’s writ also entails protecting citizens. When the administration itself blocks an entire city using shipping containers, it is—perhaps subconsciously—admitting to the weakness of its own authority. The true essence of the state’s writ lies in keeping thoroughfares open and ensuring that lawbreakers are brought to justice through legal channels rather than merely being confronted on the streets.

In the current climate, the superior courts have issued clear guidelines to the government: it must take the strictest possible action—under laws on terrorism and the maintenance of public order—against any elements that engage in arson, vandalism, or the forced closure of businesses under the guise of protest.

It is the government’s responsibility to confine protesters to designated areas in accordance with the Public Order Act 2024 and to ensure that the city’s main arteries remain open at all costs. Unless the government sets aside political expediency and takes stern, impartial legal action against lawbreakers, neither will the state’s writ be established, nor will ordinary citizens find relief from this recurring ordeal.

The administration’s conventional methods of blocking roads in the name of security have paralyzed the daily lives of citizens.

The major difficulties faced by the public and the ground realities are as follows:

Proliferation of containers and road closures: Hundreds of containers have been brought in to completely seal Islamabad’s D-Chowk and Embassy Road. Blocked entry and exit points: Heavy police contingents have been deployed, and containers have been positioned to block all major routes connecting Rawalpindi and Islamabad, including Faizabad, Tarnol, Sangjani, and the M-1 Motorway.

Lack of alternative routes: The closure of Murree Road and the Expressway has caused severe traffic jams on link roads, effectively confining residents of Raja Bazaar, Saddar, and adjacent areas to their immediate neighborhoods.

Suspension of public transport: The Metro Bus service operating between the twin cities and the intra-city Green Electric Bus service have been partially or fully suspended due to security concerns.

Arbitrary fares for private transport: Due to the absence of public buses, operators of Suzuki vans, wagons, and online bike services have doubled or even tripled their fares, placing a heavy financial burden on daily-wage earners and low-income citizens.

Suspension of educational and business activities: Private schools in the twin cities have had to close temporarily due to road closures and the prevailing uncertainty. Business Ruin: According to goods transporters, the forced seizure of containers to block roads is causing commercial goods worth billions of rupees to spoil, while business centers remain deserted.

The reality is that Pakistan’s problem is not a lack of new laws, but rather the failure to implement existing laws strictly and without discrimination—rising above political affiliations. Parliament recently passed a special law for the federal capital: the Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act 2024. The primary objective of this law is to restrict protests to designated locations (such as Sangjani) rather than allowing them to paralyze the city. Yet, the situation on the ground remains unchanged.

When a political party is in power, it blocks routes across the city by deploying containers itself to prevent protests. When that same party moves into the opposition, it asserts that blocking highways in the name of protest is its constitutional right.

Instead of functioning as independent entities in accordance with the law, the administration and police operate under the orders of political governments, rendering the law ineffective.

In recent cases, the Islamabad High Court has clarified that no party or public official has the right to block roads; the court ordered the administration to ensure the protection of citizens’ fundamental rights during protests.

The lack of institutional independence causes the system to suffer three major setbacks:

Use as a “political weapon”;

When the police lack independence, they are used to crush the opposition. Law enforcement officers are compelled to carry out measures detrimental to the public—such as blocking roads, placing containers, and suspending the internet—because failure to do so results in immediate transfer or suspension.

Lack of merit and job security: There is no shortage of capable and honest officers within the bureaucracy and police, but the issue lies in job security. If an Inspector General (IG) or Deputy Commissioner decides—in accordance with the law—to designate a specific area for peaceful protests while keeping the city open, their political superiors often view this as a sign of “weakness” and remove them from their posts. Unless officer transfers are managed by an independent board rather than being driven by political influence, they will be unable to enforce the law openly and effectively. Transparent and impartial implementation of the law is entirely impossible without completely freeing the country’s bureaucracy and police from political pressure. As long as law enforcement agencies remain subordinate to political governments, they will continue to prioritize safeguarding the political interests of those in power over public safety. This is why, whenever a call for protest is issued in Pakistan, the police and bureaucracy act upon the political signals of the ruling government rather than adhering to the letter of the law—a practice that ultimately harms the general public.

In anticipation of a potential protest announced by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), authorities have temporarily suspended Metro Bus and Green Line bus services in Rawalpindi. This decision was taken as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order and ensure public safety. According to sources, bus operations were halted early in the day, affecting thousands of daily commuters. Major routes connecting key areas of the city remained closed, while additional police contingents were deployed at sensitive locations to prevent any untoward incidents.

Traffic police have advised citizens to use alternative routes and plan their journeys accordingly. Security has been tightened across the city, particularly near major intersections and sites where public gatherings might occur.

Officials state that the suspension is temporary and services will be restored once the situation returns to normal. Meanwhile, commuters have expressed concern over the sudden disruption and urged authorities to provide timely information.