M-1, GT Road reopen between Islamabad, Peshawar after PTI postpones march

The M-1 motorway between Islamabad and Peshawar was reopened to all traffic in both directions on Monday, while the N-5 Grand Trunk Road between the two cities was also restored, the motorway police spokesperson said. The reopening eased restrictions that had been imposed on major transport routes connecting Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) with the federal capital ahead of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) planned march on Islamabad. The roads were reopened after PTI postponed its march from September 27 to October 4. However, restoration work remained under way on the M-14 motorway between Hakla and Kundal, as well as on the link road connecting the M-1 with the Hazara Motorway, the spokesperson said. Traffic from Islamabad to Abbottabad via the M-1 could exit at Burhan Interchange, use the GT Road through Hassan Abdal and rejoin the Hazara Expressway at Jhary Kas Interchange, the spokesperson added. Read: Protest postponement: govt reopens GT Road The National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP) had earlier listed the M-1 as closed in both directions between Swabi and Islamabad Toll Plaza, with southbound traffic diverted from Swabi Interchange. The E-35 Hazara Motorway, too, had been closed in both directions between Jharikas and Burhan, while the entire Hakla-to-Yarik section of the M-14 was affected by restrictions. Restrictions were also imposed on the M-2 North, including the Islamabad-bound route for heavy transport vehicles between Kot Momin and Islamabad. On the N-5, traffic restrictions were imposed in both directions at Attock Khurd, with diversions provided through HPT, Deser Star and Suzuki Motors. The restrictions affected movement between Islamabad and several areas of K-P and northern Punjab including Haripur, Taxila, Hassan Abdal, Attock and Rawalpindi. Reports from Haripur had indicated that routes towards Taxila, Hassan Abdal, Attock, Rawalpindi and Islamabad had been blocked with containers. Traffic queues were also reported around Jharikas and Hassan Abdal. The major routes had been closed or restricted at several points last week as authorities took security measures ahead of the PTI march, which was originally scheduled for September 27. Authorities had cited security and law-and-order concerns for the restrictions. Following the postponement of PTI's march, authorities began removing containers, spiked metal sheets and other barriers placed along the GT Road and the M-1 and M-14 motorways. Read More: Punjab seals routes as PTI march nears The operation to clear barriers at Attock Khurd on the N-5 was completed late Saturday night, allowing traffic on the GT Road to resume. The M-1, which had been blocked in both directions with containers and mud bags between Swabi and Islamabad, was subsequently reopened for traffic. The prolonged closure of major routes had disrupted commercial activity in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, with transport terminals reporting reduced activity and daily-wage workers affected by the disruption. Transporters said goods terminals had remained largely empty while hotels, motels, inns, marriage halls and private hostels had either closed or experienced a sharp decline in business. Transport Federation Patron-in-Chief Haji Zahoor Arain had called for transport stands inside the cities to be reopened, saying transporters had been badly affected by the closures.