Several thousand Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) members began marching towards the capital on Saturday, after violent clashes with police during anti-Israel protests in Lahore.
The TLP began its protests in Lahore on Thursday and announced plans to march to the US embassy in Islamabad to express its opposition to the US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas after two years of conflict in Gaza. The demonstrations turned violent on Friday, when police fired baton charges and tear gas at protesters who had stoned them. AFP The journalists saw.
Activities in Islamabad and Rawalpindi remained disrupted for the second day in a row amid security measures and traffic restrictions, with authorities also suspending mobile internet connections and closing major roads. Shipping containers were being placed as barriers on the capital’s main roads in anticipation of the arrival of protesters.
According to a notification issued by the Islamabad Traffic Police, “the entry of all types of heavy vehicles into the capital will be suspended until further notice.”
“Traffic diversions are being implemented due to law and order situation in Faizabad area of Islamabad and commuters are advised to use alternative routes to avoid inconvenience,” the notification added.
Key intersections including Committee Chowk, Liaquat Bagh Turn, DAV College Chowk, MH Chowk and Naz Cinema were closed for traffic. In Saddar area, Haider Road, Suzuki Stand and Murree Chowk were also blocked, while approach roads leading to Kachehri Chowk remained inaccessible, the notification said.
He said partial traffic movement had resumed at Sawan Bridge and New Gulzar-e-Quaid, but major junctions such as Chakri, Thalian, Brahma and Mandara remained closed, cutting off Rawalpindi’s access to major highways. The situation was similar at rural entry points, with Dholtala Mor, Misa Kaswal, Bai Khan Bridge and GT Road near Gujar Khan all closed.
Meanwhile, highway authorities said that M-1 was open only towards Peshawar, while M-2 remained closed in Rawalpindi and Lahore directions.
Residents of the Twin Cities expressed frustration over severe traffic disruptions.
Islamabad resident Shazia Tahir said dawn.com that his usual 20-minute commute to work took more than an hour due to multiple road closures.
“I went to Radio Pakistan this morning: the highway from Khanna was closed and all roads connecting to Rawalpindi were blocked. Faizabad was also sealed. From the highway near Khanna bridge, I had to take the service road through Sohan, then pass Margalla Town, take the road between Aabpara and F-6 to finally reach the Red Zone via Margalla Road. We It took an hour and fifteen minutes to get there.” she said.
Others reported communications disruptions in addition to traffic problems. Fauzia Kulsoom, a journalist from Rawalpindi, said dawn.com that mobile services in Islamabad’s Blue Zone remained suspended from 2 pm to 5 pm the previous day.
“The Internet has been down for two days,” he said, adding that his work has been severely affected by it.
Some residents described partial closures and heavy congestion in several areas. Riaz Ali, a resident of Bahria Town, Islamabad, said dawn.com that, although containers had been placed and certain routes blocked, it was still possible to move to other places.
“There are containers, some roads are blocked (Faizabad and GT Road), but otherwise everything is open. I have not traveled in the last few days, but data services are still cut,” he said.
He added that on GT Road near City Grammar School, bins had been placed on both sides, causing serious traffic jams. “There were large trucks and only a few cyclists managed to pass through the narrow spaces between the containers. The police presence was minimal, just a couple of officers. At the entrance to Bahria Phase 7, the traffic was also congested. In short, yesterday the traffic was very congested in this part of Bahria,” he said.
About 50 police officers were injured in Friday’s clashes, a senior police official said. AFPwhile TLP claims that some of its members had been murdered could not be independently verified.
The TLP said the protests had originally been organized to oppose the Gaza ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, which Pakistan supported, but were now aimed at expressing solidarity with the Palestinians.
“We have no demands, other than to show solidarity with the people of Gaza,” said Allama Muhammad Irfan, a senior member of the TLP. AFP as the protesters left for Islamabad.
“We have no idea when we will reach Islamabad, but the government is being brutal with us. We are not negotiating with the government at all,” Irfan said.
Deputy Interior Minister Talal Chaudhry vowed Thursday not to allow protesters into Islamabad.
“There is no place for any radical activity in Islamabad,” he told reporters. “Why is an agreement that is acceptable to Hamas and Palestine not acceptable to you?”
Israel declared a ceasefire and began withdrawing its troops around noon on Friday, as tens of thousands of Palestinians began walking back to their devastated homes.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hailed the deal on Thursday as a “historic opportunity to ensure lasting peace.”
“We will continue to work with partners, friends and leaders of sister nations to ensure that peace, security and dignity of the Palestinian people are established,” he said.
More to follow.
With additional contributions from AFP.
