KARACHI: A traders’ body has called for reopening all blocked roads and restoring mobile Internet in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, saying the blockades were causing huge financial losses.
Authorities blocked Islamabad’s entry and exit points as well as key highways after the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) religio-political party this week announced its plan to march on Islamabad to stage a protest outside the United States embassy to express solidarity with Palestinians.
Police in Pakistan’s eastern province of Punjab said on Saturday nearly 100 personnel have been injured in clashes with supporters of the religio-political party heading to the federal capital from Lahore and other cities of the province. TLP claims 11 of its supporters have been killed, though there has been no confirmation of casualties from the government, police or rescue officials.
Kashif Chaudhry, president of the Markazi Tanzeem-e-Tajran Pakistan, said late Saturday that road closures and Internet suspension were greatly affecting businesses in the twin cities.
“Residents of the twin cities have been confined to their homes for two days,” he said in a statement. “There is a fear of shortage of essential commodities in the twin cities due to the closure of roads.”
