Intercity travel from the Punjab capital was severely disrupted on Sunday after the Lahore intercity bus service suspended operations following the reported sealing of general bus terminals late Saturday night. The sudden closure left passengers stranded across various facilities, with pre-booked tickets cancelled without advance warning.
The suspensions affected long-distance routes linking Lahore to Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, southern Punjab, and several districts across central Punjab, according to a report by Dawn.
Private Operators Halt Departures
Prominent private transport companies, including Faisal Movers and Daewoo Express, confirmed that their services had been halted. Company representatives said that buses were not being dispatched from Lahore due to movement restrictions placed on public transport along national highways and motorways.
Several commuters attempting to begin their journeys reported difficulties after terminals barred departures and ticketing counters halted bookings.
Contradictory Official Accounts
Accounts concerning the source and scope of the restrictions remained conflicting among official bodies. Motorway Police spokesperson Imran Shah stated that motorways and national highways remained open to regular traffic, adding that he had no knowledge of formal instructions to suspend public bus operations.
However, another Motorway Police official, speaking anonymously, indicated that buses were barred from motorways and highways in connection with a protest call by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The official clarified that private cars and light vehicles were still permitted to use the road network. Punjab Transport Department Secretary Imran Sikandar Baloch could not be reached for comment.
Context of Protest Restrictions
The curbs on intercity travel developed alongside political friction surrounding a PTI march launched on October 4 to call for the release of former prime minister Imran Khan. While the protest march had largely remained confined within Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, authorities had moved shipping containers near the Swabi Interchange and the Indus River bridge on the M-1 Motorway ahead of anticipated demonstrations.
