Islamabad residents are waking up to a familiar sight: bright shipping containers parked along major thoroughfares. The steel barriers have been placed by police and the Information Ministry to restrict movement ahead of a postponed rally by supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Why the containers are here
Authorities say the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has a history of disruption and vandalism during protests. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar told reporters in Peshawar that the containers are necessary to keep PTI supporters from entering the capital’s Red Zone, which houses Parliament, government offices and foreign embassies.
Impact on daily life
The containers, lifted from trucks by cranes, are positioned across key routes leading to the Red Zone and to the Attock Bridge, a major crossing for convoys from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Some are stacked two high, turning broad avenues into narrow passages. Commuters report longer travel times, detours and traffic snarls. One government employee from Rawalpindi, Abdul Hafeez, said fuel prices have nearly doubled amid U.S.–Iran tensions, and the roadblocks force families to travel farther to work and school.
Shop owners along the potential protest paths are weighing whether to stay open, fearing damage if clashes erupt. “If the government does not block the roads, we have no problem with these protests,” Hafeez added.
Local reactions
Local residents describe the scene as “a city of containers.” Housewife Sahiba Bibi noted that the disruption began before demonstrators even left other provinces, particularly Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where PTI governs.
Container‑truck driver Rehmat Gul said police stopped him, seized his keys and later placed his container on a road near Rawalpindi. He claims police sometimes impound trucks and take their keys.
Background
Imran Khan, a former cricket star and political rival of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has been imprisoned since 2023 on corruption and other charges. Khan and his party argue the cases are politically motivated. The rally was originally set for Sept. 27 but was postponed to Oct. 4 after authorities blocked key approaches.
Similar container deployments were used in November 2024 when PTI supporters attempted to reach the capital despite a ban on rallies, leading to tear‑gas dispersal.
What residents can expect
When cranes begin lowering containers, many commuters start changing routes and some begin stocking up on food, anticipating further disruptions.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
