The flow of traffic in the twin cities has been disrupted for the second day as PTI protestors blocked multiple arteries of the region. Citizens were forced to find alternate routes to enter Islamabad after finding access to Islamabad severely limited on Tuesday morning. In Rawalpindi, schools have been closed for two days.
The main obstructions were placed by protestors in Shamsabad on Murree Road in Rawalpindi. Dozens of PTI protestors who arrived here Monday morning decided to stay overnight.
Authorities said Murree Road was blocked on both sides leading to a major disruption for the flow of traffic.
Islamabad Traffic Police also said that entry to Islamabad from Motorway M2 was also closed.
The development came after PTI leader Pervez Khattak announced that party workers would start blocking Islamabad’s entry and exit points from Monday night.
Aaj TV’s Peshawar Bureau Chief Farzana Ali says more PTI protesters from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province are expected to arrive in Islamabad next week.
Islamabad Traffic Police also said that diversions had been placed around the Red Zone at Ayub Chowk, Express Chowk and Nadra Chowk. Traffic is only being allowed towards Constitution Avenue from Margalla Road, a statement said.
Television footage showed Khan’s supporters burning tyres as they set up protest camps across roads.
The government ordered all state and private schools to shut for the day, according to an order seen by Reuters.
Imran, 70, launched what is known as a long-march protest rally from Lahore to the capital on Oct 28.
He was waving to the crowd from a container mounted on a truck in Wazirabad city in Punjab province last Thursday when a man fired several shots at him.
Imran was among 10 wounded people. One party worker was killed.
Police have arrested the suspected shooter.
The PTI announced late on Monday that the march would resume on Thursday at the place where Khan was attacked, and he would lead it virtually.
In a notification issued on Monday, Rawalpindi authorities also said that schools in the city would be closed on November 8 and 9.
There were reports that parents had to struggle to get their children back from schools on Monday after PTI protesters closed multiple road.
PTI has announced that mobilisation for the long march from KP would begin on Tuesday. The announcement came a day after Imran told reporters in Lahore that the long march would resume soon and reach Rawalpindi in 10-14 days.
The political tension comes as Pakistan is grappling with economic turmoil exacerbated by recent flooding that the government estimates caused economic losses worth $30 billion.
