Roads in Rawalpindi were blocked on Friday following Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) call for nationwide protests after Friday prayers. Key roads, such as Peshawar Road near Cheering Cross and NAL Road near Military Hospital (MH), were barricaded, with only one lane open for traffic.
Police placed zig-zag pickets at entry points into Rawalpindi, increasing security presence. Roads leading to Murree Road’s Marrir Chowk and Liaquat Bagh were also sealed, while Swann Bridge allowed single-lane traffic for commuters.
Despite the blockades, other roads in Rawalpindi remained open.
In the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, the metro bus service was suspended for the fifth consecutive day. Operations were halted from October 14-16 due to security arrangements for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. Although the summit concluded, the metro bus service did not resume on October 17 and remained suspended today.
Government Enforced Section 144
On Thursday, the Punjab government enforced Section 144 across the province, banning protests, rallies, and public gatherings for two days, from Friday, October 18, to Saturday, October 19.
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The Home Department issued a notification stating, “In view of the prevailing law and order situation and threat perceptions, any kind of protest or procession could become a soft target for terrorists.”
The enforcement of Section 144 came after PTI’s political committee called for peaceful protests across district headquarters on October 18. The protests aimed to show opposition to constitutional amendments and demand the release of PTI’s founding chairman, Imran Khan, who is currently imprisoned in Adiala Jail.
In its statement, PTI condemned the treatment of Khan and demanded that his fundamental rights be restored, including access to his family, lawyers, and party leaders. The party’s call for peaceful protests urged supporters to gather after Friday prayers to demonstrate against the government’s actions.
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