ISLAMABAD: Goods transporters have demanded that the government not drag them into political affairs by impounding their vehicles and containers ahead of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI)’s announced long march into Islamabad.

The All Pakistan Goods Transport Owners Association has also written a strongly worded letter to Inspector General of Police Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi, saying that police have been continuously detaining their vehicles for the last five days.

It said it was the responsibility of Islamabad police to maintain law and order and make necessary security arrangements, but commercial vehicles carrying valuable cargo should not be stopped for several days and used for road blockages.

“Islamabad Police have stopped a large number of cargo trucks and containers in connection with arrangements for the political gathering scheduled for Sept 27, with the intention of using these vehicles for road blockages,” the letter said.

The letter, also addressed to the prime minister, interior minister, communications minister and others, said it was a matter of serious concern as most of these trucks and containers were loaded with commercial and industrial cargo, some of it export-bound and worth billions of rupees, belonging to traders, manufacturers, companies and other businesses.

“These vehicles are not empty and are not part of any political activity and need to reach their respective destinations within the agreed delivery schedules,” President of the association Muhammad Owais Chaudhry, advocate, said.

It added that keeping these vehicles stopped for five days had already caused substantial financial losses to transporters and cargo owners. The longer these trucks remained detained, the greater the risk of further financial loss, disruption of business operations and damage to time-sensitive cargo.

“This situation is causing serious hardship to the transport community and the businesses whose goods are on these vehicles. The transporters cannot accept the continued detention of vehicles carrying cargo worth millions of rupees for this purpose. These vehicles are engaged in legitimate commercial transportation, and their movement should not be unnecessarily disrupted.

“We therefore request your immediate personal intervention and strongly urge that Islamabad…” Owais Chaudhry added.

Meanwhile, talking to Dawn, he said he had even received reports that some containers had been released by police personnel after taking money.

Most of the around 500 container vehicles had been taken into custody from different areas of Islamabad, mainly Sangjani, I-9, Sihala and Tarnol police stations.

“We had to facilitate the transporters to remove the goods from the containers because the authorities do not take responsibility for the loss or damage of the cargo,” he added.

The president of the association referred to his earlier discussions with the ICT administration and said the officials had accused the transporters of siding with the opposition parties.

“We may have political connections on an individual basis like other citizens, but our opposition to impounding the vehicles should not be considered as political linkage to the PTI,” Owais Chaudhry added. He said commercial vehicles were for trade and economic activity, “not for the safety and security purposes of the police department.”

The association has warned the government against impounding the vehicles, saying the forced use of commercial vehicles for political purposes by the authorities had created an impression of state coercion.

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2026