Islamabad is preparing for another political showdown as the federal government moves to block road access from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa while the PTI remains split over how to go ahead with its planned march on the capital on September 27.

The government has announced closure of Peshawar Expressway (M-1) for all kinds of traffic from 11pm on Wednesday till further orders and asked the motorists to avoid the route. The M-2 expressway linking Islamabad and Lahore will, however, remain open.

PTI’s planned mobilization comes ahead of the move with authorities taking precautionary measures to stop protesting caravans reaching Islamabad. The restrictions are expected to affect one of the main arteries linking Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa with the federal capital.

Meanwhile, differences have emerged within PTI over the party’s protest strategy. During a meeting of the party’s parliamentary members in Peshawar, the leadership proposed to hold sit-ins at different points on the Punjab border before moving to Islamabad in phases.

The proposed sites include Attock Bridge, areas near Hazro on the expressway, Haripur, Khushalgarh in Kohat and Nathia Gali. Under this plan, the party was able to think about moving toward Islamabad in the first week of October.

However, the phased approach has drawn opposition from some lawmakers and party leaders, who say the convoy should move toward Islamabad on September 27 itself.

The meeting did not reach consensus and another meeting is expected on 25 September to finalize the strategy.

But the PTI leadership has decided to launch the march from Peshawar on September 27. The convoy is expected to head toward Attock on the Grand Trunk Road under the leadership of Chief Minister Sohail Afridi.

The key question for now is whether the march will turn into a direct assault on Islamabad or a long, drawn-out campaign of sit-ins and phased mobilization.

 
Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)