A curfew slapped by Pakistani authorities in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, which entered its third consecutive day on Sunday, is making life unbearable for local residents.
"There is an acute shortage of flour, vegetables, milk and other food items due to prolonged curfew," Sultan Shah, a local resident, told Anadolu Agency by phone.
"I had never thought that someday even milk for children would not be available," he fumed.
Curfew was imposed on Friday after the killing of ten people in clashes between Sunni and Shia groups on Ashura, the 10th day of the Islamic month of Muharram.
Shops and markets have closed down.
Cellular service also remained suspended for the third day in a row as army and police troops, backed by armored personnel carriers and hovering helicopters, patrolled the city roads.
Khalid Masood Chaudry, the commissioner of Rawalpindi, said the administration has not yet decided to lift the curfew.
"Situation is still tense and that is why the government has not taken any decision in this regard," he told reporters Sunday.
"We understand the sufferings being faced by the ordinary citizens, but all the measures have been taken to save their lives and properties," said the official.
Rawalpindi is located 9 miles from the capital Islamabad and is the fourth largest city in Pakistan.
- Unbearable
Locals complain that security forces have arrested over two dozen people who were simply looking for food to their families on charges of violating the curfew.
"I do not have milk for my kids. What should I feed them," Khadim, another resident, told AA angrily.
He accused security forces of harshly treating citizens who dared to venture out of their homes in search of food and medicines for their families.
"If the administration cannot completely lift the curfew, it should at least relax it so that we can buy food and other essential items," he insisted.
Khadim lamented that a 14-year-old boy in his neighborhood was seriously ill but security forces prevented his father from taking him to hospital.
"If someone tries to come out of his home, the security personnel directly point gun at him and order him to go back," he claimed.
The closure of transport and roads has exorbitantly shot up the prices of different food items in nearby Islamabad.
"Prices have gone up three folds," Usman Tarakai, a resident of the capital, told AA.
Islamabad depends, by and large depends, on Rawalpindi and other adjoining cities for food supplies.
By Aamir Latif
englishnews@aa.com.tr
