Police officers stand at a checkpoint on a road leading to the Serena hotel, as Pakistan prepares to host the United States and Iran for peace talks in Islamabad. PHOTO: REUTERS
MURREE/ ISLAMABAD:
Citizens of the federal capital are increasingly expressing their anger over heavy police checkpoints and roadblocks set up on almost all major and secondary roads in the city, saying the measures are causing serious daily inconvenience and do not improve security.
Commuters report long queues, frequent vehicle searches and traffic jams that have turned routine trips into a nightmare. “Every day we are trapped for hours,” said a resident of Sector F-8. “Schools, offices and hospitals are affected. This is not security, it is harassment.
Public frustration has peaked following the recent cold-blooded murder of a prominent businessman in Islamabad. According to eyewitnesses and police sources, a group of armed men arrived at his residence, opened fire, killing him and wounding other people, and then fled the scene without resisting.
Despite the dense network of checkpoints spread across the city, the attackers reportedly escaped easily. “When criminals want to do something, they come, commit the crime and leave freely,” one angry resident told local media. “But law-abiding citizens are the ones who suffer at every corner.” Many point out that strong internal controls have done little to stop serious crimes while seriously disrupting normal life.
Residents and merchants have begun to demand immediate help. A growing number of people are calling for checkpoints within the city limits to be removed and restricted to entry and exit points into Islamabad only. “Checkpoints at the main entrances to the city make sense to control outsiders,” says a member of a local merchants’ association. “But putting barriers on all internal roads is useless and counterproductive. It only creates problems for residents and gives criminals time to escape while we are delayed.”
Several social media campaigns and resident welfare groups have started raising the issue, urging the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration and police to review the security strategy. Official response awaited When contacted, Islamabad police officials defended the checkpoints, saying they were established after intelligence reports about possible threats. However, they acknowledged having received multiple complaints about traffic disruption and promised to “review the placement of some barriers.”
As public discontent grows, the recent murder incident has become a flashpoint, with many questioning whether the current overall approach to security is actually making the capital safer or simply more chaotic. More protests and resident meetings are expected in the coming days if the situation is not resolved.
Traders protest against smart confinement
On the other hand, Murree traders staged a strong protest against the smart lockdown and closure of markets at 8 pm, observed a lockdown strike and held a demonstration on Mall Road under the banner of Central Anjuman-e-Tajran Murree.
Addressing the protest, business leaders including President Sohrab Abbasi, President Mirza Suhail Baig, General Secretary Haji Nisar Abbasi, Senior Vice President Munawar Ameen Abbasi, Vice President Raja Zahid Ismail and Information Secretary Shahid Mumtaz Abbasi termed the decision to close Mall Road and other markets at 8 pm under the smart lockdown as unfair. They said tourists, after spending the day at various recreational spots, face difficulties when they visit Mall Road at night, only to find it closed.
Due to the strike call, all shops and markets remained closed, paralyzing commercial activity and causing inconvenience to visitors. However, the tourists expressed solidarity with the traders and demanded that Murree be exempted from the smart lockdown restrictions.
Protesting merchants said the measures have severely affected tourist activities and the local economy, which depends entirely on tourism. They added that business and employment opportunities have been severely affected.
The Central Anjuman-e-Tajran Murree urged Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to exempt Murree from smart lockdown in view of its importance as a tourist destination.
With additional contributions from DNA
