PTI chalks out course to Islamabad
Despite widespread crackdowns, road closures, and arrests, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) remained steadfast on Saturday, vowing to overcome all obstacles and reach Islamabad for their planned rally on Sunday (today).
The decision was made during a high-level meeting held at the Chief Minister's House in Peshawar.
The meeting, chaired by party Chairman Barrister Gohar, was attended by prominent figures, including Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, former president Arif Alvi, Shibli Faraz, Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram, and other senior leaders.
The key discussions focused on preparations for Sunday's protest with the final decision to march toward the federal capital being officially endorsed.
Due to the motorway closure, participants deliberated on sending convoys via the GT Road. They also discussed plans to remove obstacles and reopen the motorway.
The meeting considered alternate routes for convoys from Hazara and Malakand divisions and discussed the option of deploying heavy machinery to critical points, including Attock and Swabi, to facilitate the movement.
The party has claimed that despite unprecedented restrictions it will be the biggest power show in the country's history.
Meanwhile, the provincial authorities, under directives from the federal government, intensified their efforts to prevent PTI supporters from reaching the capital. These measures included the closure of motorways and major highways, as well as the deployment of shipping containers to block key entry points. Many PTI workers and leaders reportedly disguised themselves as ordinary travelers and used private vehicles or public transport to bypass restrictions.
The National Highways and Motorways Police (NHMP) announced the closure of major motorways linking Islamabad with other parts of the country, citing road maintenance.
According to a public notice posted on the NHMP's official X (formerly Twitter) account, motorways across Punjabincluding M-1 (Peshawar-Islamabad), M-2 (Lahore-Islamabad), M-3 (Lahore-Abdul Hakeem), M-4 (Pindi Bhattian-Multan), M-11 (Sialkot-Lahore), and M-14 (Hakla-Yarik)were to remain closed starting Friday night.
In Lahore, the district administration erected double-layered barricades made of shipping containers at major entry and exit points, with a heavy police presence deployed to curtail movement. Similar measures were reported in other districts across Punjab.
PTI Punjab Information Secretary Shaukat Basra criticised the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government, accusing it of holding the people of the province hostage to suppress a peaceful protest. He insisted that party workers would still reach Islamabad despite the road closures and other obstacles.
"The government's attempts to suppress us will fail," Basra stated. "The shipping container walls around Islamabad will prove to be nothing more than sandcastles against the determination of PTI workers."
He reiterated that the protest would continue until the release of PTI founder Imran Khan, emphasizing that the rally marked a pivotal moment in party's political struggle.