Truckers halt northbound trips as containers pile up at Karachi port
Pakistan truckers have stopped driving north after authorities seized shipping containers intended to block routes into the capital ahead of an October 4 march planned by Imran Khan's party.
Drivers fear vehicle seizure
Truck drivers say police seize their vehicles and remove containers before they reach Punjab. One driver described the journey toward the northern province as like committing suicide. Authorities began stopping these northbound vehicles around September 5.
Containers line roads for weeks
Steel shipping containers packed with sand and welded together have lined roads leading into Islamabad. These barriers were prepared against a march originally scheduled for late September before being postponed to October 4. The opposition party plans to demand the release of former prime minister Imran Khan during this event.
Officials refuse comment requests
Pakistan ministries including home and commerce did not respond to requests for comment regarding the blockade. Local police departments also declined to answer questions about the seizure operations. The situation has caused a significant pileup of cargo at the main port.
All 2 outlets report consistently
No differences in figures, names or dates across these reports.
- Business Recorder
- Dawn
Reported by
2 independent outlets. Headlines as published. Links open the original report.