Islamabad police have impounded nearly 1,000 commercial shipping containers ahead of planned political protests in the capital, disrupting freight operations and prompting transporters to accuse authorities of illegally seizing vehicles.
The containers have been held for about 12 days, according to Muhammad Owais Chaudhry Advocate, president of the All-Pakistan Goods Transport Owners Association.
Chaudhry alleged that many of the vehicles were carrying goods worth tens of millions of rupees and had been deployed to block roads, leaving cargo exposed to crowds and potential damage.
“Today marks 12 days since the Islamabad Police illegally seized nearly 1,000 containers belonging to our transporters,” Chaudhry said while talking to private media outlet.
Truck drivers at the Faizabad intersection, a major link between Islamabad and Rawalpindi, reported that police had taken their vehicle keys, documents, licences and mobile phones.
“They took the keys from me, they took all the documents as well,” driver Shani Gujjar recounted, adding that those who approached a nearby police station had received no clear information about when their vehicles would be released.
Vehicle owner Mohammad Ishfaq alleged that drivers had been kept waiting for hours after their vehicles were seized.
The allegations had not drawn an immediate response from the police or district administration.
The measures come ahead of two planned political gatherings.
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) is due to march on Islamabad on Sept. 20 over its demand for the abolition of the petroleum levy, a tax imposed on fuel.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has separately announced a major gathering on Sept. 27 to press for the release of its founder and former prime minister Imran Khan.
JI leader Salman Sheikh indicated that talks with the government had ended without an agreement.
“If the petroleum levy is not abolished, we will march toward Islamabad on the 20th,” Sheikh declared, describing the levy as an “extortion tax”.
