Normalcy is gradually returning to Pakistan’s capital after the abrupt end of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest, with major roads reopened and internet services restored.
On Wednesday, the M-4 Motorway (Pindi Bhattian – Multan) and M-3 Motorway (Lahore – Abdul Hakeem) were reopened, along with a key section of the M-4 from Pindi Bhattian to Abdul Hakeem.
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Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced that schools, roads, and metro bus services would soon be fully operational. He confirmed schools would reopen the next day, roads would be cleared by Wednesday, and internet and metro services would be restored as soon as possible.
In a late-night press conference, Naqvi revealed that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Bushra Bibi had fled the protest site during the crackdown. He also noted that Bushra Bibi had rejected Imran Khan’s order to move the protest to Sangjani, opting to push towards D-Chowk instead.
The operation, involving Rangers, ATS commandos, and hundreds of police personnel, targeted key locations like Kulsoom Plaza Chowk and Blue Area, dispersing the protesters and making numerous arrests. Reports indicated that Bushra Bibi and Gandapur escaped together.
Naqvi condemned the protest’s disruptive actions and warned that those responsible for violence and damage would face legal consequences. He also assured that investigations into the attacks on media offices would take place.
