Political activists resorted to heavy aerial firing in different areas of twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi to violate the section 144 imposed in entire three provinces and federal capital to block lawyers long march.
Indiscriminate firing in I-9 and I-10 sectors of Islamabad and Sadiqabad, Jamia Masjid Road, Banni chowk, Waris Khan and Commercial Center areas of Rawalpindi caused panic.
When contacted the police officials in Rawalpiundi, show complete ignorance saying that they have no information about aerial firing from rooftops. Meanwhile, the Federal Government has took extra-ordinary measures to deny the access to the participants of lawyers long march in Islamabad, who had plans to hold sit in for an indefinite period.
Government has planned to make sure unavailability of food, shelter, transport, space and other civic facilities to participants of long march if they ultimately succeed in entering the federal capital.
Transport terminals were sealed, universities and colleges were asked to close the hostels and ask students to vacate. Hotels and restaurants have also forced to close their business in the federal capital. Caterers have also been directed not to entertain orders for food and tents, restaurant owners have been asked not to permit take away and parcels to the customers during the long march. They have been clearly instructed by the Islamabad administration to follow the directions otherwise strict action will be taken against them.
Islamabad Administration has directed the owners of guesthouses in the twin cities not to provide booking to people in coming three days. The owners of about 150 Guest Houses were threatened of dire consequences if they make any bookings.
These moves are apparent to discourage the participants of long march and sit-in in front of the Constitution Avenue. The administration has already restricted entry of vehicles into the federal city by putting containers on the roads while inter-city vehicles have also stopped plying on the routes due to the long march and restrictions imposed by the city administration. Strict vigilance is also being carried out at all the entry points of the twin cities.
In another interesting development in Islamabad, the Aapara police station has forced the residents of G-6 sector including Apara market area to give written assurance that they would not allow any guest from other city till March 18. Meanwhile, the cellular companies jammed the SMS services within the jurisdiction of the federal capital to minimise communication in lawyers march. The voice service was partially active throughout Sunday, creating serious problems for the local residents.
Sources said that the mobile phones companies have inactivated some of their links used for voice communication on cellular phones. The idea is not to end mobile phone communication, but to reduce the connectivity and percentage of overall calls in Islamabad. Resultantly, approximately 50-60 percent of calls are being connected on mobile phones, decreasing communication within the federal capital. The concerned departments of the mobile phone companies have followed the directives of their international communication from their superiors.
Sources further said that the mobile phone companies have no intention to completely block voice services within Islamabad, but to reduce the overall percentage of phone connectivity during lawyers march. The technical departments of mobile phones companies have followed the instructions of the relevant directors or other senior executives. Sources said that the SMS service would remain suspended till Monday night as per initial instructions of these cellular companies. However, this period might be extended depending on the changing political developments in the country.
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