Peshawar transformed into a city of heavy container blockades on Sunday following the imposition of governor’s rule across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Although the provincial capital previously enjoyed relative political stability despite decades of regional violence, the sudden political shift brought immediate disruption. Residents awoke to complete mobile network blackouts, shuttered public transit stations, and heavily barricaded major thoroughfares throughout the entire city. Consequently, routine travel across the capital turned into an arduous and confusing exercise for everyday pedestrians and commuters alike.
Security personnel established widespread blockades across key city arteries, including GT Road, Firdous Chowk, and Malik Saad Shaheed Chowk. Hundreds of police officers stood guard outside closed commercial storefronts and patrolled restricted pedestrian pathways to manage movement. Furthermore, authorities completely secured the Red Zone near the KP Assembly, Bala Hisar Fort, and Surey Pul Square with shipping containers. Meanwhile, the Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit service remained fully suspended, leaving local commuters stranded without public transportation options.
Access to major administrative centers, including the Civil Secretariat and Khyber Road, was strictly monitored by police and paramilitary contingents. Heavy armored personnel carriers, prison vans, and riot police trucks remained strategically positioned near the Chief Minister House and Governor’s House. While police allowed limited pedestrian movement along certain Detours like Shoba Bazaar, plainclothes security personnel restricted access near Army Stadium. Therefore, confusion grew among citizens attempting to navigate through the sudden roadblocks without active cellular service or reliable communication tools.
Commercial hubs like Saddar Bazaar remained partially open, though surrounded by barricades placed along Arbab Road and Stadium Chowk. By Sunday afternoon, local internet services also suffered major outages, further isolating residents from real-time regional news and developments. Observers noted that while Peshawar marchers previously caused container blockades in Islamabad, federal authorities have now effectively containerized Peshawar itself. Ultimately, the city remains under tight security oversight while political leadership navigates the ongoing emergency situation across the province.