Authorities in Islamabad have temporarily closed key entry and exit points in the Red Zone due to heightened security concerns, officials confirmed on Saturday. The affected areas include Express Chowk and Serena Hotel’s access routes, which will remain shut until further notice, according to a statement from Islamabad Traffic Police. Commuters are being directed to use alternative routes via Nadra, Marriott, and Margalla roads, while vehicles heading towards the Red Zone from Club Road are advised to take Seventh Avenue.
The police have urged citizens to stay informed through the Islamabad Traffic Police helpline at 1915 or follow their official social media channels for updates on traffic conditions.
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In a separate development, security forces successfully thwarted a terrorist attack on the Lakhani checkpoint located on the Punjab-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa border, the second assault in a week. The attack took place early Saturday morning, with approximately 15 to 20 heavily armed militants launching a pre-dawn assault using rocket launchers and other heavy weaponry, according to Punjab police officials.
The attackers were detected by thermal imaging cameras, allowing alert personnel to respond swiftly with machine guns and mortar fire, forcing the militants to retreat. While there are reports of significant casualties among the militants, exact numbers remain unconfirmed.
This attack follows a similar incident six days earlier at the same checkpoint, which was also successfully repelled. The operation was led by Regional Police Officer Dera Ghazi Khan Captain (Retd) Sajjad Hassan Khan, with district police teams providing reinforcement.
Punjab Inspector General Dr. Usman Anwar praised the swift response of security personnel, who have now repelled 19 similar attacks on border checkpoints.
