Major motorways and the GT Road, which were closed as part of security arrangements ahead of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s planned September 27 long march, are expected to reopen for traffic from 6:00am on September 27. The expected reopening follows PTI’s decision to postpone the march to October 4.
The routes expected to reopen include important sections of the M-1, M-14 and GT Road. Their reopening would ease travel restrictions between Islamabad, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after several major routes were closed ahead of the original protest date.
The M-1 Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway had been closed between the Islamabad Toll Plaza and Chachh Interchange, while the M-14 Islamabad-Dera Ismail Khan Motorway was closed between Hakla and Kundal. A section of the GT Road was also closed at Attock Khurd as part of the security measures.
PTI postponed its planned Islamabad long march on Friday. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi announced that the march would now begin from Peshawar on October 4. He said the decision was taken by the party’s political committee.
Afridi said the party’s stated demands include constitutional supremacy, an independent judiciary, media freedom and the release of PTI founder Imran Khan. He also criticised the arrests of party leaders and workers and raised objections to road blockades and other restrictions.
The postponement came after authorities had introduced extensive security measures ahead of the original September 27 date. These included road closures, restrictions on movement and the deployment of additional security personnel in Islamabad and parts of Punjab.
The reopening of the major routes is expected to provide relief to commuters and transporters travelling between Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Motorists are advised to follow instructions issued by the National Highways and Motorway Police and remain alert for any changes in traffic arrangements.
The exact reopening arrangements may depend on the security situation and instructions from the relevant authorities. Travellers are therefore advised to check the latest traffic updates before starting their journey.
With the PTI march now scheduled for October 4, authorities may review security and traffic arrangements again closer to the revised protest date. The new march is planned to depart from Peshawar and proceed towards Islamabad.
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