Life returns to normalcy as curfew lifted in G-6

People in Sector G-6 Saturday resumed their normal daily activities Saturday as curfew, which was clamped on July 3 to carry out an operation against the militants in Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa, was finally lifted.
Shops and smaller markets in the sector opened up in the morning and many people came out to do their shopping. Majority of shops in Aabpara were also open.
Power supply in Melody Market, however, could not be restored by afternoon and many hotels shops and Melody Food Market remained shut. During a survey conducted by this agency, CDA staff was found busy clearing garbage and trees, uprooted during a fierce storm couple of days ago, from the sector and food market.
"Piles of garbage are polluting the air and making it difficult for us to stay in the area. Now on seeing the CDA staff busy in clearing garbage from different streets I heaved a sigh of relief," said Khurram Bhatti, a resident of G-6/1-3.
"Because of curfew, CDA staff were not able to remove garbage, which was scattered around the containers and on the roads for the last 10 days," he added.
Many trees were uprooted as a windstorm at a speed of 148km/h hit the federal capital late Thursday night which damaged many signboards, street lights and huge billboards. The banks in Melody market witnessed rush of customers who wanted to withdraw their salaries and cash as it was the first day since July 3 when they opened up for business.
Officials had announced that areas and roads within close proximity of Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa will continue to remain a no-go area for the general public. The working women of the sector who faced problems due to prolonged curfew showed satisfaction over lifting of curfew Saturday.
A working women's hostel at G-6/1-3 which was closed since the launch of the Lal Masjid operation, has also been opened. This hostel accommodates a large number of working women in the federal capital. Majority of women had vacated the hostel following the operation, but now most of them have returned.
Many families in the sector following the curfew had either moved to their relatives in other sectors or left the city. "When the authorities clamped curfew, I moved to my father's house in G-10 and have returned this morning," Muhammad Shahid a father of three said. Shaista, a woman of the hostel in the area said she went to her sister's house as the area was declared the red zone.