Farid Shinwari
PESHAWAR: The protesting sit-in continues on second consecutive day by activists of Tehreek-e-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah Peshawar chapter on Jameel square Ring Road Peshawar, blocking main road as part of resistance against a crackdown carried out by law enforcement agencies against protestors at Islamabad Faizabad Interchange.
Activists of Tehreek-e-Labaik and Sunni Tehreek last day protested against the federal government for its action against the peaceful demonstrators of TLP who had camped out at Faizabad Interchange for the last three weeks, asking federal minister for law, Zahid Hamid to step down and make public the report of Raja Zafarul Haq.
District Peshawar Ameer of TLP, Hujatullah led the protest and other people having association with religious parties accompanied them. He along with other members castigated central government for using brutal baton charge and tear gas against the protestors of religious party and vowed to resist till the end of operation. Enraged protestors chanted slogans against PML-N led federal government and holding placards and banners inscribed in favor of their demands.
They asked federal government to withdraw all first information reports (FIRs) lodged against leaders and members of TLP and instantly release those persons who have been detained by law enforcement agencies in Islamabad and other cities of the country. They clarified they would not budge an inch from their demands and compel central government to accept their legal demands.
Commuters, motorists, loaded vehicles and public transports had jammed owing to blockade of main route in Peshawar since last day and all the movements have been suspended on Phandu road as well. Commuters have been travelling on alternative routes to avoid traffic jam and reach destinations through other routes. Because of the protest sit-in, most of the roads in provincial metropolitan including Khyber, University Road, Bara Road, Charsadda and others witnessed severe traffic mess.
People have suffered a lot after all traffic turned to GT Road which further increased the troubles of motorists and public transport on holiday. Even those who had intended to visit markets for shopping remained confined to their homes due to unexpected flow of traffic and rush.
In order to avoid any untoward incident in provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the provincial government has deployed a large number of police personnel to cope with the current situation.
Meanwhile, Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Siraj-ul-Haq has also condemned the use of forces against the activist of Tehreek-e-Labbiak and suggested the government to refrain further crackdown against protesters. He said that government should handle the matter peacefully and should heed the demands of the protesters.
Activist of Jamiat Uelma-e-Islam Noorani group also joined the protest sit at Jameel square and expressed sympathies with activist of Tehreek-e-Labbiak Ya Rasool Allah (TLYR). The participants had put chairs and stones on main ring road blocking the flow of traffic via Phando road and main circular road linking GT road Peshawar.
