Operators suspend intercity buses from Lahore

Intercity buses from Lahore were suspended on October 11 following reports that the city's terminals had been sealed. Faisal Movers and Daewoo representatives told Dawn they were not dispatching buses because of restrictions.

Passengers faced ticket cancellations and difficulties travelling to Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and other parts of Punjab. Dawn reported that the administration sealed general bus terminals late on October 10. Pakistan Connect also reported closures, without an official explanation.

Motorway police spokesperson Imran Shah told Dawn that motorways and highways remained open and that he knew of no directions to suspend bus services. Another officer, speaking anonymously, linked bus restrictions to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's protest call and said private vehicles could still use the roads.

The march demanding Imran Khan's release began on October 4. At the time of the report it remained within Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where PTI governs. Containers had been brought to Swabi Interchange and the Indus River bridge on the M-1, although Dawn said the motorway and Grand Trunk Road remained open.

Punjab Transport Department Secretary Imran Sikandar Baloch did not respond to Dawn's attempts to obtain comment. The reports give no confirmed time for services to resume.