Security tightened at Attock crossings ahead of PTI march

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TAXILA: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Wednesday visited various entry points of Punjab from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Attock to review security arrangements ahead of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) proposed Islamabad march on Sept 27.

Director General of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Dr Usman Anwar and Regional Police Officer (RPO) Rawalpindi Babar Sarfraz Alpa accompanied the interior minister, according to sources.

Deputy Commissioner Attock Dr Mudassir Ahmed Shah and District Police Officer Capt (R) Ali Bin Tariq were also present.

The minister’s visit focused on security arrangements at the Chach Interchange, Haroon Bridge and Ghazi Barotha Bridge, which form part of important road links between northern Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Hazara division and the Islamabad–Rawalpindi region.

According to sources, the administration has begun moving containers towards checkpoints near Attock Khurd and Attock Bridge.

The containers arriving at the checkpoint are reportedly being positioned along both sides of the road. Sources further said bags filled with sand were being transported to other entry points in Attock, while containers were also being shifted to various locations.

Sandbags had reportedly been delivered to Haroon Bridge and Haro Bridge on the Islamabad- Peshawar motorway.

The sources claimed that workers associated with the Suthra Punjab sanitation programme were also being used to fill bags with sand and gravel.

The bags may be used for road blockades or to establish temporary defensive positions, they said. However, it was not independently confirmed whether the reported material movement had been authorised for a specific deployment or whether any formal blockade plan had been finalised.

The crossings of the Chach Interchange, Haroon Bridge and Ghazi Barotha Bridge in Attock district bordering various parts of KP and Hazara have particular significance in the context of previous PTI mobilisations.

Published in Dawn, September 17th, 2026

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