PTI leader’s son arrested, major routes blocked ahead of rally

ISLAMABAD: Dr Hasan Mehmood, son of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) central leader Mian Mehmood-ur-Rashid, was arrested in Islamabad and transferred to Sangjani Police Station, according to police sources.

The arrest occurred while Dr Hasan along with his colleagues was on his way to attend a public jalsa of the PTI at the Cattle Market, an outskirt of the federal capital.

As the PTI is scheduled to hold a rally in the Sangjani area today, the authorities have closed key entry and exit points to Islamabad by placing containers.

The Attock bridge, which connects Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with Punjab, has also been shut down, creating traffic disruptions.

The closure of the Attock bridge has caused long queues of vehicles, leaving PTI workers and citizens stranded.

The PTI workers have started arriving at the venue despite the blockade. However, the main routes into Islamabad have been sealed off at 39 different locations.

The Grand Trunk (GT) Road has been blocked from both sides using containers at Sangjani.

On the orders of the Islamabad district administration, security has been heightened to maintain law and order.

All entry and exit points to the Red Zone have also been blocked by placing containers, and only authorized personnel are being allowed to enter Islamabad via Margalla Road. Motorway at 26 number Chungi has also been closed, while Expressway has been blocked at Khanna Bridge. The Murree Road have been blocked at Faizabad by placing containers. Rawat T Chowk leading to Rawalpindi has also been blocked.

Other major routes, including Bhara Kahu and the Islamabad side of Motorway M2 have also been sealed off. Public transport services, such as the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metro Bus, and intercity Red Line, Green Line, Orange Line, Blue Line, and Pink Bus Service have been halted along with feeder routes.

Meanwhile, PTI convoys, including one led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, have started reaching Swabi. The convoys are scheduled to depart from there as a rally towards Islamabad.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has said that convoys from across the country are moving towards the location of PTI rally at Sangjani, despite roads leading to the rally being blocked.