Peshawar - With vehicles bumper-to-bumper, sunlight at its peak in summer season and lack of air-conditioner in the vehicle was a very bitter experience on Monday.

Also, the feeling of thirst while stuck in a traffic jam for more than an hour on the road in such a hot weather seems to be a punishment. Abdullah, a rickshaw driver, cursed his life as a driver while stuck in the traffic jam, as the main GT Road was blocked by a Defence Day (September 6) rally. “Why are they torturing the public and us all by walking on the main GT Road for the Sept 6 rally?” he questioned when he heard about the reason for the huge traffic jam.

A traffic police cop, when asked about it, said: “Traders and other people are marching on GT Road in connection with Defence Day rally.”

When asked why the police were not asking them to stage their march while also allowing smooth flow of traffic, the traffic cop said: “In fact, we asked them to open the road and march on the roadside, but they did not listen.”

However, in the meanwhile he received a call and said: “I am on GT Road and stuck in a traffic jam for the last one hour….”

Amid the lengthy traffic jam, several people sitting in their vehicles, particularly in three-wheelers, were found fanning themselves with the loose ends of their kameez while cursing the authorities for the traffic snarls.

“A rally can be staged at some important location like outside provincial assembly or press club. But how demonstrators are being allowed to stage a march and demonstration on the main GT Road that has thousands of vehicles all the time?” said another motorist while wiping drops of perspiration of his face amid the traffic jam near Hashtnagri on GT Road.

While this correspondent covered the distance from Mardan to Peshawar via motorway in 30 minutes, the short distance from Haji Camp bus terminal up to the KP Assembly in Peshawar took an hour.

“The road has opened and traffic started moving, I will call you later on. Our suffering has ended because the procession of the Defence Day has left the road for traffic now. God forbid if someone has died in such a huge traffic jam but someone shall be responsible to ensure smooth flow of traffic on a major artery like GT Road,” said a taxicab driver as the traffic resumed movement.