In a horrific incident, a woman lost her life in an ambulance stuck in a road blockade caused by a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest at the Swabi Interchange.
A woman identified as Anwar Begum, resident of Nowshera’s Shereen Kot area, succumbed to her condition while the vehicle was unable to move due to the road closure.
The blockade, which critics describe as a desperate and low tactic by PTI, when unable to mobilise large crowds for protests, relies on a handful of supporters to shut down roads and disrupt public life.
This approach to prioritising political agendas over the welfare of ordinary citizens, particularly in PTI’s home province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has faced severe criticism from the people.
PTI, which claims to represent the people of the province, is now accused of becoming the very source of their hardships. By blocking roads in the name of protest, the party is pitting citizens against the state, with the heaviest burden falling on the poor and vulnerable.
This is not the first time such actions have inconvenienced the public, as protesters repeatedly engage in disruptions that harm everyday lives.
The consequences of these protests extend far beyond inconvenience. Businesses suffer losses, daily wage labourers return home empty-handed, patients like Anwar Begum face life-threatening delays in reaching hospitals, and students’ education is interrupted.
Traffic blockades create severe hardships for residents, throwing normal routines into chaos and leaving communities frustrated.
PTI protest: Road situation in Islamabad
On the other hand, due to the continuation of PTI protest in Islamabad the Red Zone remains completely inaccessible to the general public and all adjacent roads including Constitution Avenue, are also sealed.
However, the remaining roads in the capital remain open and there are no reports of any closure.
According to traffic police officials, all roads in Islamabad and Rawalpindi are opened and traffic flow is normal with no blockage. Social media news regarding road blockages in Islamabad are false.
Motorway situation
M1 motorway from Swabi to Islamabad is still closed however, GT road from Peshawar is open.
M2 motorway from Lahore to Islamabad is opened and traffic flow is normal.
PTI protest latest situation
The protest call by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf outside Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House failed to gather significant support on Saturday. Former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur appeared largely alone, with no visible presence of party workers or MPAs.
The sit-in was organised to demand the transfer of PTI founder Imran Khan to a hospital for medical treatment. However, the protest remained largely ineffective due to the absence of senior leadership and low turnout of supporters.
No major political personality, except Gandapur, joined the demonstration.
PTI leaders had hoped to build pressure on authorities through the protest, but the gathering outside KP House remained limited. Officials confirmed the situation stayed peaceful, with no major disruption reported.
