Punjab-KP Routes Face Fresh Closures Ahead of September 27 PTI March

ISLAMABAD: Transport links between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab faced fresh disruption on Friday as restrictions remained in place on major roads ahead of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's planned September 27 march towards Islamabad. A video circulating on social media showed a route between the two provinces obstructed with metal barriers described by the person who posted the footage as nails, adding to public attention around tightening security measures.

The disruption comes amid wider motorway and highway restrictions introduced ahead of the political mobilisation. Official travel advisories have listed closures or diversions on several major routes, including sections of the M-1 Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway, the E-35 Hazara Motorway, the M-14 corridor and parts of the N-5 Grand Trunk Road. Authorities have cited law-and-order considerations for the restrictions.

The closures have affected passenger and commercial movement between parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, northern Punjab and the federal capital. Buses and other interprovincial vehicles have faced delays or diversions, while the movement of goods has also been disrupted. Prolonged restrictions could affect the transport of vegetables, medicines, food supplies and petroleum products between affected areas.

The road situation has also become a political point of contention. Government representatives have said security measures are intended to protect public safety and maintain order ahead of the planned demonstrations. Opposition figures have criticised the closures and argued that they restrict political activity and ordinary travel.

PTI has announced a march towards Islamabad for September 27 as part of its continuing political campaign. Party leaders have linked the mobilisation to demands including the release of its imprisoned founder Imran Khan and other political grievances, while authorities have stressed that demonstrations must remain within legal limits and should not threaten public order.

Security arrangements have been strengthened in Islamabad and several Punjab districts ahead of the march. Rangers have been authorised to assist police during the period surrounding the planned protest, alongside restrictions on public gatherings and increased monitoring of routes leading towards the capital.

For travellers and businesses, the immediate concern is whether transport restrictions will continue or expand as September 27 approaches. Commuters are expected to rely on official traffic updates before travelling, particularly on routes connecting Peshawar, Swabi, Attock, Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The next major developments will depend on security decisions by federal and provincial authorities and whether political contacts alter the planned march or the road-control measures already in force.