**Educational institutes stayed closed in Rawalpindi for the third straight day on Thursday, as PTI’s protests at multiple points in the city continued entered their fourth day. However, PTI announced it was shifting its main camp at Shamsabad off the Murree Road to allow traffic to flow again. **

The main protest camp at Shamsabad, infront of Allama Iqbal park, had blocked both sides of Murree road, one of the most important roads in the city. Traffic police had said that the public should use Said Pur Road, 5th road and Commercial Market Kuri Road as an alternative.

Blockages also continued for traffic going from Islamabad to Lahore on the motorway, although the disruption was limited to the ISlamabad Toll Plaza on M2. Traffic police said Thalliyan interchange near the new airport is stillopen for the public.

Authorities also said that citizens affected by closure of IJP road can use Peshawar Road, Chur Chowk towards Westridge, Marble Factory Road, Golra Mor and Srinagar Highway. People affected by closure of GT Road near Taxila can use Motorway M1 as an alternative.

PTI has been protesting since Monday night, against the attack on Imran Khan in Wazirabad that injured the PTI chief and brought the long march to a halt. Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has accused the provincial government headed by PTI, of aiding these protesters in an ‘attack on the federation.’

Two PTI groups clash in Taxila

During the protests, two PTI groups led by two MPAs went into an armed clash injuring three party workers in Taxila.

Sources said that a group of supporters of MPA Taimur Khan left to join his camp when men of MNA Mansoor Hayyat Khan barred them from passing through their protest camp. A verbal clash occurred between two groups of PTI which turned into an armed clash.

Educational Institutes in Islamabad should stay open: DC

Meanwhile DC Islamabad took notice of the closure of educational institutes in the capital on Thursday. In instructions issued via the Ministry of Education, the DC said that academic activities should not be stopped ‘without knowing ground realities’. The action was taken after reports emerged that many schools and universities in Islamabad were not functioning.