On Sunday, authorities opened several roads in Punjab as Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) protesters continued their sit-ins in Muridke and Sadhoke for the third consecutive day, continuing their attempts to reach Islamabad to stage a protest in “solidarity with the Palestinians.”
The M1 motorway connects Peshawar to Islamabad, while the M2 motorway connects Lahore to Islamabad and the M3 motorway links Lahore to Abdul Hakeem in Khanewal district, where it joins the M4 leading to Faisalabad and Multan.
A day ago, the main TLP procession reached Muridke after breaching police security, hours after violent clashes in Lahore left more than four dozen police officers injured. Protesters then staged a sit-in in Muridke, blocked by trenches dug along GT Road.
In an update on Sunday night, the highway police issued an alert stating that the Sialkot Expressway was now open, but the roads from Chowk Yateem to Scheme Morr and Babu Sabu remained closed.
Earlier, authorities reopened the M1, M2 and M3 motorways to traffic on Sunday.
“Citizens can travel on Swat Highway, Hazara Highway and Hakla DI Khan Highway,” police said in a traffic alert. “Containers have been removed from all internal and external routes.”
The highway police concluded the alert by stating that information can be received through their helpline 130 and their official accounts on social networks.
Roads that have been reopened today include parts of Margalla Road, Jinnah Avenue and Seventh Avenue, as well as Korang Road towards Bani Gala; From Jinnah Road to Park Road; Garden Avenue to Tulip Banquet Hall; Chand Tara flyover to Club Road (Murree Road); Fazal-i-Haq Road, Nazimuddin Road, Embassy Road; Ninth Avenue from JUP to Shaheen Chowk via internal access from Margalla Road and others.
TLP spokesperson Usman Naushahi said dawn.com that protesters remained in Muridke and Sadhoke, saying: “We have not gone any further yet.”
While Internet service is slow in the area, mobile data services are working, according to citizens.
Meanwhile, the federal government moved over 1,200 paramilitaries to Punjab to intercept protesters marching towards the capital from Lahore via GT Road.
Yesterday, police said a gathering of 300 people, carrying TLP flags, posters and banners, reached the junction from Dhoke Abbasi and surrounding areas.
The demonstration chanted anti-government slogans and made speeches, causing people to join the TLP protest. Protesters also blocked GT Road and refused to clear it when asked by police. In response, police used force, arresting 90 protesters and confiscating sound systems, while others escaped.
Last night the police also decided to lift some roadblocks on some roads.
