ISLAMABAD: Islamabad road closures intensified Monday as authorities completely sealed D-Chowk with containers and prepared additional barriers and trenches on routes used by protest convoys.
Authorities have positioned containers at key entry points and intersections, including Serena Chowk, Srinagar Highway, Margalla Avenue and Faizabad. A large number have also been moved to T-Chowk in Rawat to restrict access from southern approaches.
Authorities had already sealed major routes leading towards Islamabad’s Red Zone last week as security preparations increased ahead of demonstrations by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI).
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Separately, officials have prepared a plan to dig trenches on approaches from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after surveying routes connecting the province with Islamabad, according to media reports citing official sources.
The reported trench locations include GT Road, Chungi No. 26, Pirwadhai, I.J. Principal Road, Aswal Mor and Kati Pahari. Authorities also plan to erect barricades along other major routes used by protest caravans.
JI began its march towards Islamabad on September 20 over the petroleum development levy and fuel prices, while PTI has announced a separate mobilisation for September 27.
The trench measures remain reported plans; current reporting confirms container deployment and D-Chowk’s closure but does not confirm that trenches have been dug at all listed locations.
