PESHAWAR: The workers of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Inaf opened Grand Trunk Road to traffic for few hours on fourth day of their protest on Monday, allowing stranded passengers to proceed to their destinations.

The protesting workers of PTI have blocked entry and exit points of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for the last four days, demanding of the government to shift former prime minister and incarcerated founder of their party Imran Khan from jail to hospital for medical treatment of his eye.

Protesters have blocked Peshawar Islamabad Motorway at Swabi’s Anbar Interchange, GT Road at Khairabad Bridge, Dera Ismail Khan-Bhakkar Road, Lakki Marwat-Mianwali Road, Hazara Motorway at Abbottabad-Havelian Interchange, Kohat-Pindi Road near Khushal Garh and Upper Kohistan-Gilgit Karakoram Highway.

The passengers and motorists got a bit relief when PTI leadership allowed them to travel from 9:30 of Sunday night till 3pm of Monday by opening Khairabad Bridge, connecting KP with Attock district of Punjab.

Continuous blockade of major roads perturbs passengers

When the road was opened for a few hours, the people stuck in KP and Punjab for the last three days, rushed to reach their destinations in both provinces. After 3pm, the PTI workers again blocked the busy GT Road at Khairabad bridge.

Deputy information secretary of PTI Ikram Khattana told Dawn that they opened GT Road as Monday was working day and many people, especially employees, were struck in Punjab and KP.

The closure of motorway in Swabi has badly affected passengers, particularly women, children and elderly people. Meena Khan Afridi, provincial minister for higher education, and Shafi Jan, special assistant to chief minister, led protesters at Swabi Interchange.

“Motorway has been closed at rest area to all types of traffic due to which most of the traffic is going to Jhangira or Mardan via Karnal Sher Khan Chowk, Swabi, leading to slow flow of traffic at Swabi Chowk,” district police chief Janab Ali said in a statement.

He said advised motorists and transporters to use Gohati Bypass instead of Karnal Sher Khan Chowk to normalise flow of traffic.

Speaking to media, Shafi Jan said that their protest would continue till achieving the objectives of releasing Imran Khan and treatment of his eye by doctors of his choice.

PTI workers continued their sit-in for fourth consecutive, keeping major roads linking Dera Ismail Khan division to Punjab blocked.

Heavy vehicles were seen lined up for kilometres at New Chorah while Obhaya Bridge in Proa tehsil remained blocked. Traffic at Qureshi Morr was partially suspended. Protesters also blocked Chashma Road and New Chorah link road, further restricting movement between KP and Punjab.

PTI leader Sardar Adnan Gandapur announced that the sit-in at Qureshi Mor would continue through the night.

Meanwhile, reports also indicated that in neighbouring Mianwali, protesters blocked roads and did not allow vehicles to pass.

Protesters closed the main road connecting KP with Punjab and Islamabad via CPEC route at Darra Tang in Lakki Marwat. The road was later opened to vehicular traffic at 5pm when the protesters dispersed.

In Karak, PTI workers continued their protest outside Nashapa oil and gas facility, disrupting supply chain.

Published in Dawn, February 17th, 2026