September 2026
By Hashir Ahsan
ISLAMABAD
Following the PTI’s call for a protest in Islamabad on September 27, the administration has begun preparations to prevent the demonstration. Over 500 containers have been taken into custody by the Islamabad Police to block the routes.
The All Pakistan Goods Transport Owners Association has written letters to Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Federal Minister Abdul Aleem Khan, DC Islamabad, and IG Islamabad regarding the detention of containers, demanding their release.
According to the text of the written letters, for the past five days, the Islamabad Police has detained a large number of cargo trucks and containers for the purpose of arrangements and road blockages for the political rally scheduled for September 27.
Worryingly, most of these trucks are loaded with commercial and industrial goods worth billions of rupees, belonging to traders, factory owners, companies, and other business entities. These vehicles are not empty, nor are they part of any political activity; rather, they are carrying valuable goods that must reach their destinations on schedule.
Due to these vehicles being stopped for five days, transporters and cargo owners have suffered severe financial losses. The longer these vehicles remain stopped, the risk of further financial loss, disruption to business, and damage to sensitive goods will only increase.
We fully understand the responsibilities of the Islamabad Police regarding law and order and essential security arrangements. However, commercial vehicles carrying valuable goods should not be used to block roads by detaining them for several days.
This situation is causing severe hardships for the transport community and the business sector.
Transporters cannot accept the continuous detention of vehicles carrying goods worth billions of rupees for this purpose. These vehicles are engaged in legitimate commercial transport and their movement should not be unnecessarily hindered.
Therefore, we request your immediate personal intervention and strongly demand that orders be issued to the Islamabad Police to immediately release the detained commercial vehicles.
Speaking to Voicepk, Muhammad Owais Chaudhry Advocate, President of the All Pakistan Goods Transport Owners Association, said that the number of containers is increasing day by day. He mentioned discussing this issue with various high officials, but the containers have not been released.
He said that they have no affiliation with any political party, and the actions of the Islamabad administration are causing large-scale daily losses to them. If this attitude of the Islamabad administration continues, the supply of essential commodities will stop, leading to a shortage of life’s necessities. He demanded that the administration immediately release all their containers, as this action has also caused a wave of concern among drivers.
Owais Chaudhry also said that there were talks of keeping 40-foot container vehicles impounded at police stations until September 27, while vehicles were reportedly allowed to leave after alleged payments of 12,000 rupees. He requested high authorities to take immediate notice, conduct a transparent investigation, and resolve the difficulties faced by transporters.
Seizure of containers in November 2024
On the occasion of the PTI protest on November 26 (2024), federal and provincial administrations along with the police seized a large number of containers and placed them on main routes to block highways and for security measures.
To seal various entry and exit points of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and the motorway, around 3,000 to 5,000 containers and cargo trucks were taken into custody, out of which over 1,000 containers were installed within the limits of Islamabad and Rawalpindi alone.
Daily Rent / Expense of Containers
According to the law, when the police or administration acquire containers or trucks from goods transporters, their official daily rent is fixed at approximately 35,000 to 40,000 rupees per container.
The combined daily rent for such a large number of containers amounted to over 100 million to 150 million rupees per day, over which transport associations and the business community raised severe protests because it resulted in losses of trade goods worth billions of rupees.