Shipping containers block roads in Peshawar on Sunday, hours after the federal government imposed emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The containers sealed several routes around the cantonment and the Red Zone. As a result, traffic backed up on the roads that remained open.
The measures followed President Asif Ali Zardari’s approval of the federal cabinet’s recommendation. Emergency was imposed under Article 232 of the Constitution, and governor’s rule under Article 234. Our report on the emergency and governor’s rule imposed in KP explains the constitutional steps taken earlier on Sunday.
Where the containers block roads in Peshawar
Containers were placed near the railway station, blocking the routes towards Khyber Bazaar and Shoba Bazaar. Other containers near Edwardes College blocked the entry to Jail Road and the Malik Saad Shaheed Flyover. Meanwhile, containers near Bala Hisar Fort and outside the Pakistan International Airlines office blocked the entry towards Mall Road.
Police were deployed in large numbers, particularly around Governor House. The deployment included personnel called in from other districts. However, the military was deployed only at check posts, as is routine. Only official vehicles were allowed to travel from Governor House towards the Chief Minister’s House.
Royal Artillery Bazaar was closed for traffic. Saddar, in contrast, remained partially open. Earlier in the day, the closure of the main Khyber Road caused long traffic jams. Khyber Road connects the Grand Trunk Road with the eastern side of University Road. It is the city’s main artery, so the diversions put heavy pressure on smaller roads.
The blocked area forms part of the cantonment. It also covers the Red Zone, which holds the Corps Commander’s House, the civil secretariat, the central police office, the CM Secretariat, the CM House and Governor House.
A province put on alert before the decision
The roadblocks came a day after KP Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed put district police on alert. His office warned of possible violent protests and sabotage if an emergency was imposed. The notification said district police officers could issue directions to regulate protests and protect public safety. It also said officers could take legal action if violence broke out, while urging caution in the use of force.
On Sunday afternoon, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi defended the emergency, saying the Centre had spent over a month trying to take the KP government on board. Before that briefing, the federal cabinet had met to weigh emergency and governor’s rule on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The ruling parties had already finalised a plan to bring KP under federal control before the cabinet met.
The decision followed weeks of friction between the Centre and the PTI-led provincial government. The two sides disagreed mainly over counterterrorism policy. Their October 3 talks broke down on that question, and the dispute then moved towards Sunday’s constitutional step.
Opposition alliance moves its press conference
The restrictions were also felt in Islamabad. KP House was sealed, so the Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-Ayin-i-Pakistan, the main opposition alliance, lost its usual venue for press conferences. The alliance then approached the National Press Club, but the club refused to host the briefing despite the alliance offering to pay the fee.
The alliance therefore shifted its press conference to Jamia Al Wilaya near Bhara Kahu, on the Murree Expressway. Its spokesperson, Akhunzada Hussain Ahmed Yousafzai, confirmed the change of venue to Dawn. In Peshawar, meanwhile, the PTI’s long march had earlier reached Swabi, where the party said it remained open to talks.
Dawn’s ground report from Peshawar recorded the closures as they took effect on Sunday evening. The situation in the city was still developing, and further restrictions had not been ruled out.
For residents, the immediate effect was practical. School runs, office travel and hospital trips across the cantonment all faced long detours. Traders in the closed bazaars also lost a day of business. How long the containers stay in place will depend on the security assessment in the coming days.
FAQ
Why were containers placed in Peshawar on Sunday?
Authorities placed the containers after the federal government imposed emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The closures sealed routes around the cantonment and the Red Zone as a security measure.
Which roads were blocked in Peshawar?
Containers blocked the routes towards Khyber Bazaar and Shoba Bazaar near the railway station. They also blocked the entry to Jail Road, the Malik Saad Shaheed Flyover and Mall Road, while the main Khyber Road was closed.
Who holds power in KP after governor’s rule?
The governor now runs the provincial administration under Article 234. The elected provincial government stands suspended while the emergency and governor’s rule remain in force.
