M-1 and N-5 have reopened in both directions, while restoration work continues on the Hazara Motorway link and M-14.
The M-1 Motorway between Islamabad and Peshawar reopened to all traffic in both directions on Monday, along with the N-5, or Grand Trunk Road, the National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP) said.
The reopening comes days after the routes were closed as authorities prepared for a planned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) march toward Islamabad. PTI announced on Sept. 25 that the march had been postponed until Oct. 4.
The NHMP said restoration work was continuing on parts of the road network and advised motorists to follow traffic instructions and exercise caution in affected areas.
The loop connecting the M-1 with the Hazara Motorway remains closed, while restoration work is also continuing on the M-14 Motorway between Hakla and Kundal, according to the NHMP spokesperson.
Motorists traveling from Islamabad toward Abbottabad on the M-1 have been advised to exit at Burhan Interchange and use the GT Road through Hassan Abdal. They can rejoin the Hazara Expressway at Jhary Kas Interchange to continue toward Abbottabad.
Routes closed indefinitely last week
The government had closed the M-1, M-14, also known as the CPEC road, and the GT Road indefinitely from the night of Sept. 23 to prevent PTI supporters from reaching Islamabad on Sept. 27.
At the time, the NHMP said the M-1 was closed in both directions between Islamabad Toll Plaza and Chhachh Interchange. The M-14 was closed between Hakla and Kundal, while the GT Road was blocked at Attock Khurd.
Authorities placed containers and sandbags at Attock Bridge and Haroon Bridge, key crossings between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, while security was tightened at the Chhachh and Ghazi interchanges. Nearly 30,000 personnel were deployed across the district, according to the report.
Jamaat-i-Islami had also announced a march toward Islamabad against the petroleum levy but postponed it at the request of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, pending a meeting with him.
Sanaullah says Islamabad should be excluded from protests
Speaking on Geo News’ Jirga programme on Saturday, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said people had a constitutional and legal right to protest but argued that Islamabad should be excluded from such marches.
He said protests could instead be held in cities including Faisalabad, Hyderabad, Karachi, Peshawar and Multan. Sanaullah said gatherings in Islamabad without prior permission were barred under the Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act 2024.
He accused PTI of seeking to overthrow the government and questioned whether a planned march could be considered peaceful if its objective was to reach Adiala jail and meet Imran Khan. PTI has sought the release of its founder, who has been imprisoned at Adiala jail since his Aug. 5, 2023 conviction.
Sanaullah said PTI had not sought permission from the Islamabad administration or provided details about the timing and duration of its proposed gathering. He said the party should approach the Islamabad High Court and provide the required guarantees.
He also defended the placement of containers in the capital, saying they were positioned for safety and could be deployed if needed.
Court ruling and security measures
The Islamabad High Court ruled on Sept. 14 that political parties and their leadership do not have a lawful right to occupy public roads, highways, interchanges, toll plazas or government buildings in Islamabad.
Security arrangements remain in place in the federal capital and Rawalpindi Division despite the postponement. Punjab has banned gatherings across the province until Oct. 5 and prohibited incitement to unlawful assembly, while a similar Section 144 order has been in force in Islamabad for two months.
The federal government has also approved the deployment of Rangers in Islamabad and several Punjab districts from Sept. 20 to Oct. 5.
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