The main highway between Rawalpindi and Islamabad was blocked on Monday due to the ongoing protests held by PTI workers and supporters against the failed assassination attempt on former premier Imran Khan. The PTI supporters held protests at five different places in the twin cities which have badly affected the traffic flow on GT Road, Taxila, Rawat, Airport Road and Murree Road. They burned tyres and raised slogans against the government on the main Shamsabad Murree Road of Rawalpindi.
PTI workers also blocked GT Road Rata Shah Chowk Margalla from both sides due to which commuters and local residents of the area including shopkeepers faced hardship. Apart from this, PTI activists also staged a protest in Pirwadhai area and the highway connecting Pirwadhai with IJP Road was closed for traffic as they set tyres on fire. During the protests, PTI leader Fayyazul Hasan Chauhan and workers also reportedly engaged in a quarrel. A PTI worker alleged that a fight broke out between the protesters and Chauhan after the latter slapped one of his party workers. However, Chauhan denied the allegation, saying he only slapped the worker considering him as his own son.
Earlier, the police in the federal capital warned of action against those protesting without permission in Islamabad without the permission of the local administration. The announcement comes a day after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said the party will be returning to the streets to resume its long march on Islamabad, which was disrupted after an attempt on his life, from Tuesday (tomorrow) – exactly from the point he brushed with death three days ago. He earlier today revised the decision, saying the march would now begin from Wednesday. In a series of tweets, the capital police also said that they are taking action to arrest political workers who have been identified and cases have been registered against them.