Rawalpindi residents brace for more road blockades, mobility restrictions.

RAWALPINDI -- The fundamental right of free movement in Rawalpindi and Islamabad will virtually be suspended as Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) is likely to stage a massive sit-in protest at Shamsabad, a few hundred metres from the border of the federal capital territory, against the attempted murder of party leader Imran Khan after the long march arrives here.

Freedom of movement for residents is expected to be restricted due to the blockade of the main Murree Road and its arteries as the PTI's long march has planned a massive gathering of its supporters from all over the country, especially from Punjab, KP and AJK, apparently to force their entry into the federal capital.

The district administration and police are expected to play the same role which they did during last week's sit-ins in various parts of the province and blockade of motorways, GT Road, Murree Road, Peshawar Road, old Airport Road and many other entries.

Even educational institutions were closed for three days in Rawalpindi due to the blockade of roads as parents were not willing to send their children to schools and colleges.

PTI plans massive sit-in protest at Shamsabad after arrival of long march, apparently to force entry into Islamabad

In normal circumstances, whenever even a vendor blocks the flow of traffic the police promptly move and take legal action against them. But citizens' fundamental right of free movement in Rawalpindi remained suspended for about one week and the police did not move until the Lahore High Court (LHC)'s Rawalpindi bench summoned the deputy commissioner and the city police officer (CPO) on November 11, 2022, to explain why the citizens' fundamental rights were suspended by protesters.

Apparently to justify their negligence before the court and to hush up the issue, the police registered two separate FIRs - one with Naseerabad police and the other with Taxila police - against 'unidentified people' and did not launch an investigation.

As electronic and print media reports and eyewitness counts clearly showed the PTI leaders leading the sit-ins in Taxila, Shamsabad, Naseerabad and other entry points the police kept their eyes closed and did not mention the name of even the political party, its supporters and leaders some of whom were watching a T20 cricket match between Pakistan and New Zealand on the blocked IJP Road.

Punjab Law Minister Mohammad Basharat Raja, who was leading the PTI supporters' sit-in on IJP Road at Pirwadhai Mor said in a...

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