Normalcy returns to twin cities as roads opened, internet restored

ISLAMABAD: The situation has returned to normal in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) called off the much-hyped protest, staged at Islamabad’s D-Chowk.

PTI workers and leadership retreated on Tuesday night after a grand operation by law enforcement agencies (LEAs). The operation cleared Islamabad’s D-Chowk and Blue Area with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and PTI founder Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi fleeing the protest site.

In a press release issued on Wednesday, the party spokesperson stated, “In light of the government’s brutality and plans to turn the federal capital into a slaughterhouse for unarmed citizens, we are announcing the temporary suspension of our peaceful protest.”

As the protest ends, the district administration has initiated cleanup efforts, mainly on Jinnah Avenue, along with the removal of containers blocking various roads in the city. Business activities will resume today, while educational institutions will reopen tomorrow.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Irfan Memon has instructed assistant commissioners to clear their respective areas.

Meanwhile, the mobile internet services in various areas of Rawalpindi and Islamabad also started to be restored following a four-day outage.

PTA Chairman (retired) Major General Hafee­zur Rehman confirmed to the media that the internet services were “restored at 7 am”.

Furthermore, all types of traffic resumed on the motorways. Motorway police confirmed that Motorway M-2 between Lahore and Islamabad has reopened for traffic, and Motorway M-11 is now open for Lahore to Sialkot traffic. Additionally, Motorways M-4, M-14, and M-3 have also resumed operations.

Earlier today, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi visited the area between D-Chowk and Khyber Plaza. He met with the Rangers, Islamabad, Punjab, Sindh Police, FC, and the Pakistan Army and appraised them for last night’s crackdown against PTI protestors.

He reviewed the areas cleared of “miscreants” and directed the CDA to carry out the cleaning task on the roads, state-run Radio Pakistan reported. Naqvi also assessed the damage to buildings and infrastructure during the violent protest and instructed the removal of road blockages.