Sections of motorway, GT Road to remain closed from tomorrow evening

Pakistan Highways and Motorway Police on Tuesday said that several sections of the motorway and the GT Road will remain closed to traffic from Wednesday evening ahead of the planned protest and march of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf on Islamabad.

According to a spokesperson for NHMP, the M-1 will remain closed from Islamabad Toll Plaza to Chach Interchange. Motorway at Islamabad Toll Plaza, Fateh Jang, Tarnol and Sangjani interchanges will also remain closed.

Brahma Bahtar, Burhan, Hazara Motorway, Ghazi and Chach interchanges will also remain closed, the Motorway Police spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, the M-14 will remain closed to traffic in both directions from Hakla to Kundal.

The Hakla, Fateh Jang, Pindi Gheb, Kharpa, Tarap, Daud Khel, Kot Balian, Isa Khel and Kundal interchanges will remain closed.

The GT Road (N-5) will also remain closed to traffic at Attock Khurd from tomorrow evening, according to the Motorway Police.

The Motorway Police has also imposed a ban on heavy traffic travelling from Lahore to Islamabad on the M-2 motorway from tomorrow.

The ban will prevent heavy vehicles and cargo vehicles from entering Islamabad from Lahore, according to a Motorway Police spokesperson.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has vowed to proceed with September 27 Islamabad march despite the government’s warnings.

Sohail Afridi and PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan on Monday reaffirmed that the party would proceed with its planned September 27 march on Islamabad, despite warnings from the federal government.

“We will continue our struggle for our rights,” Afridi said, adding that the PTI would go to Islamabad despite roadblocks being created by the federal government.

He said the party had not held a major protest or long march for nearly two years, arguing that it had used the provincial and National Assembly forums as well as legal avenues during that period.

“From November 26, 2024, until today, nearly two years have passed. During these two years, we have not held any long march or major protest,” Afridi said.

The KP chief minister said that the PTI had tried to resolve its grievances through constitutional and democratic means but had not received a positive response.

He said the party had also been unable to meet its founder, Imran Khan, and alleged that court orders concerning meetings with him had not been implemented.

Afridi also said the detention of Imran Khan’s three sisters was intended to weaken the party’s planned mobilisation but would not prevent the PTI from proceeding with the march.

Police detained Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan in Lahore on Sunday under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, according to a detention order issued by the Lahore deputy commissioner.

Likewise,  Amnesty International also expressed concern over the detention of Khan’s relatives and PTI activists. The rights organisation said the targeting of Imran Khan’s family and PTI workers was a violation of their rights to liberty, freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly. Amnesty International called on Pakistani authorities to immediately release Imran Khan’s relatives and PTI workers, saying they had been targeted because of their familial ties, political affiliation and plans to protest.

No one will be allowed to create unrest in Islamabad: Tarar

 Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Tuesday said that no one would be allowed to create unrest in Islamabad, as the government stepped up security preparations ahead of a planned protest and long march by the PTI.

“We will not allow them to create unrest in Islamabad under any circumstances,” Tarar said.

He questioned the PTI’s approach to protests, saying political parties should engage in politics rather than creating unrest.