Lahore: The provincial capital on Wednesday witnessed blocked roads and traffic jams as the police placed containers on all the major roads to block demonstrators taking out rallies in favour of the blasphemy law. The demonstrations are being taken out on the sixth death anniversary of former Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer, who was assassinated for speaking out against the blasphemy law.
Those who had planned to protests included members of Sunni Tehreek, Tehreek-i-Khatme Nabuwat and Tehreek-i-Labbaik. The protesters had planned to march from Kalma Chowk to Liberty Chowk.
Superintendent Police Security Ibadat Nisar said the Punjab government had not allowed the demonstrators to hold any rally in Lahore. He added that law enforcement would not allow the demonstrators to carry out their planned march and reach their destinations. Nisar said that police would block routes and make arrests if need be.
All roads leading to and from Barkat Market and Main Market have been barricaded with containers along with massive deployment of the police. Due to the blockade of roads, the residents of Lahore are facing severe traffic issues along some routes.
