PTI Long March: M-1, M-14 and GT Road Routes Closed
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN — WEB DESK: Authorities have closed major sections of the M-1 and M-14 motorways and GT Road ahead of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s planned September 27 long march towards Islamabad, significantly affecting road links between Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and the federal capital.
According to the National Highways and Motorway Police information reported by Express Urdu and Dawn, the M-1 Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway has been closed in both directions from Islamabad Toll Plaza to Chhachh Interchange.
The affected M-1 points include Islamabad Toll Plaza, Fateh Jang/Tarnol, Sangjani/AWT, Brahma Bahtar, Burhan, Hazara Motorway, Ghazi and Chhachh interchanges.
The M-14 Islamabad-Dera Ismail Khan Motorway has also been closed to traffic in both directions from Hakla to Kundal. Express reported closures at Hakla, Fateh Jang, Pindi Gheb, Kharpa, Tarap, Daud Khel, Kot Belian, Isa Khel and Kundal interchanges.
Official NHMP travel information available Thursday morning separately showed the M-14 affected by a law-and-order situation, with restrictions covering the route.
The N-5 GT Road has also been closed in both directions at Attock Khurd, disrupting another major connection between Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab.
The restrictions are part of security preparations ahead of PTI’s scheduled march towards Islamabad on September 27.
Dawn reported that containers and sandbags had been positioned around Attock Bridge and Haroon Bridge, while security was also tightened around Chhachh and Ghazi interchanges. Attock is particularly significant because major routes from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa into Punjab and the Islamabad-Rawalpindi region pass through the district.
Security preparations have also intensified in the twin cities. More than 2,000 containers had already been deployed at various locations in Islamabad and Attock as authorities prepared for the march.
Meanwhile, Section 144 has been imposed in Islamabad, restricting public gatherings as authorities prepare for the planned protest. The Islamabad administration has asked residents to comply with the restrictions and cooperate with security agencies.
Preparations are also underway in Rawalpindi Division, where authorities plan to deploy more than 43,000 personnel across Attock, Rawalpindi, Murree, Jhelum and Chakwal. Police officials told The Express Tribune that Rawalpindi and Islamabad would be kept open until the march entered Punjab territory.
The measures come amid a politically contentious dispute over PTI’s planned mobilisation. PTI is seeking the release of former prime minister Imran Khan and has criticised arrests, raids and restrictions ahead of the march. Authorities, meanwhile, have cited security and law-and-order concerns in preparations for the demonstration.
The Islamabad High Court has previously stated that political parties do not have a lawful right to occupy roads, highways, interchanges, toll plazas or other infrastructure in ways that obstruct access to educational institutions and medical facilities.
For travellers, the key concern is that the restrictions are not limited to the day of the march. The closures were announced ahead of September 27 and, according to the initial NHMP-linked reports, affected routes were to remain closed until further notice.
Motorists should therefore check current NHMP travel information before beginning journeys towards Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock or Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, as restrictions and diversions may change according to the security situation.
