PESHAWAR: The normal life of common citizens has been badly disrupted as the PTI long march led by KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi entered Karak district.
The convoy started from Gandi Chowk in Lakki Marwat on October 4 and made its first major halt near Karak. The march will depart for Kohat today at 12:30 pm and then move towards Peshawar and finally gather at Khairabad on October 8.
Local residents say daily routine has come to a standstill. The Indus Highway and link roads have been partially closed with containers and Section 144 has been imposed in several districts of KP, banning movement of people and vehicles on specified routes.
Traders in Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Karak bazaars said business has been badly affected for the past one month due to repeated road closures.
Transporters said goods trucks are stuck and customers are not coming to markets.In Taxila and surrounding areas, five government schools, one private school and a college have been vacated to accommodate police personnel deployed to handle the march.
Water supply in Rawalpindi has also been disturbed as 22 WASA water tankers sent to Taxila on September 22 have not yet returned. Parents complained that school vans and ambulances are facing long delays, while daily wage workers and patients going to hospitals in Kohat and Peshawar are stranded.
On the other hand, the federal government has warned that protesters will not be allowed to enter Islamabad and court orders regarding demonstrations in the capital will be strictly enforced.
Read also: PTI’s Long March Struggles to Gain Momentum in Lakki Marwat
