Talal Chaudhry says all 125 Islamabad routes open as PTI march nears
Aaj News reports hundreds of containers and over 500,000 sandbags have been placed at Attock border points despite the minister's claim.
Federal Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry said on Thursday that no road in Islamabad has been closed and all 125 routes into the capital are open, but Aaj News reported that authorities have positioned hundreds of containers and more than 500,000 sandbags at entry and exit points in Attock ahead of a possible Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf long march on September 27.
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Chaudhry said the government had not blocked any route. Aaj News, citing sources, said the measures were visible at Khairabad Bridge, Haroon Bridge, Chhachh Interchange and along the Hazara Motorway, where the containers and sandbags could be used to control vehicle movement if protests begin.
The minister used the same appearance to criticise the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government's Police Act 2026, approved by the provincial cabinet a day earlier under Chief Minister Sohail Afridi. He said the province cannot override the Pakistan Police Service rules and that federal law will take precedence over provincial legislation. Express News quoted him as saying that no province has unfettered autonomy: Sindh could not establish its own navy and Punjab could not build its own railway.
Chaudhry accused the KP government of destroying the police command structure by keeping posting authority for senior officers in the chief minister's hands. Under the new law, according to Aaj News, the provincial government will issue the notification of the inspector general of police, the additional IG headquarters will assume charge in the IG's absence, transfers of DSPs and ASPs will be made by the home secretary, and postings and transfers of SPs, SSPs and additional IGs as well as the chairmanship of the police policy board will be given to the chief minister.
He said police officers should not look at what a political party wants, and claimed the PTI founder used to lecture about depoliticising institutions. He added that if the situation demands, the federal government will go to parliament and legislate. Express News quoted him as saying a single militant carries equipment worth $10,000 to $15,000 while KP police constables serve without bulletproof jackets. He also said several provincial ministers were absent from the funerals of Kohat martyrs.
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