VVIP movements cause severe traffic gridlock

Thousands of people found themselves stranded on roads in the Sindh metropolis on Thursday because of severe security restrictions in the wake of visits by President Asif Ali Zardari, PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari were at Chief Minister House to attend a meeting of the party's lawmakers from Sindh while Nawaz Sharif was at a local hotel to sign a joint declaration with the Sindh United Party, forging an election alliance.
Barricades were erected and heavy presence of traffic police was seen on several major roads, including II Chandrigar Road, the PIDC roundabout and the road going towards the Governor's House. There was, however, no formal announcement regarding the blockages, severely impeding people's movement, sources in the traffic police told Business Recorder.
A large number of Rangers and police personnel was posted along several roads for providing security to the three political leaders. Traffic police constables abruptly started advising people to reverse their vehicles and take alternative routes because of the "VVIP movement".
A banker, who identified himself as Nabeel Ahmed, complained that his office was just across the road near the Chief Minister's House, but he was unable to go there because of the road blockade. Criticising the administration, he said that these "VVIPs" should avoid going to places frequented by general public, instead of barricading entire localities and roads without prior notice or devising alternative arrangements facilitating public movement.
An irked Dilwar Hussein, who was barred from going towards the PIDC building, was stuck inside a taxi cab. He told Business Recorder that leaders of developing countries should act like common citizens, instead they acted like emperors. He said that he was on a visit from Lahore and needed to go to visit his friend but he wastuck up in "his eliberate traffic jam". Traffic constables advised people toremain clam and justified their positions by saying they were just performing their duties in accordance with orders they were getting from the top.