Pakistan: Opposition March Nears Peshawar as Punjab Bans Gatherings Through October 15

October 6, 2026 — Update to our October 5 story. The opposition PTI march left Kohat on Tuesday and reached the outskirts of Peshawar. Punjab province has banned gatherings for ten days, and the freight strike set for October 10 has been postponed.

What changed

Where the march is: The convoy led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi reached Mattani, on the edge of Peshawar, on October 6.
Punjab ban: Punjab imposed Section 144 from October 6 to October 15. It bans gatherings of five or more people, processions and assemblies.
Talks: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said talks resume only if PTI ends the march. The provincial governor said the march will not be allowed past Attock.
Freight strike postponed: The goods transporters’ wheel-jam strike planned for October 10 is off for now. A new date will be set after the march ends (TBA).
Islamabad: Samaa reports about 1,200 shipping containers placed around the capital, with three routes into the Red Zone open and two closed.
Unchanged: Rangers remain deployed in Islamabad through October 15.

The published route

Date	Plan
Tue, Oct 6	Kohat to Mattani, outskirts of Peshawar
Wed, Oct 7	Leaves Peshawar in the afternoon; overnight near Charsadda Interchange
Thu, Oct 8	Reaches Khairabad on the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa–Punjab border; next phase to be announced
Islamabad arrival	TBA

The route follows Dawn’s reporting. Other outlets give slightly different stops.

Not confirmed today

A local live page listed motorway closures on October 5 (M-1 between Islamabad Toll Plaza and Chachh Interchange, M-14 Hakla–Kundal, and GT Road at Attock Khurd). We could not confirm they were still in force on October 6.
No new mobile or internet shutdown was reported on October 6.
No report mentioned Islamabad airport access or flights.

What it means for travelers

Islamabad and Rawalpindi are functioning, but road links toward Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are restricted. Allow extra time for the airport and check your route before leaving.
The risk window opens Thursday, October 8, when the march reaches the Punjab border near Attock. Avoid road travel between Islamabad and Peshawar from then.
Stay away from gatherings. The Punjab ban runs to October 15, and police may disperse crowds without warning.
Mobile data can be cut at short notice. Download boarding passes, hotel details and maps before you travel.
Have a backup plan out of Islamabad or Lahore in case roads close.
Register with STEP (US) or Registration of Canadians Abroad.