Capital blockade ahead of Oct 4 PTI protest chokes Karachi Port

As Pakistan attempts to deter supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan from reaching the capital, Islamabad, shipping containers have amassed in Karachi, the country's primary port, located 1,400 kilometers away. Truckers are hesitant to travel north due to concerns that their vehicles may be confiscated, and containers used as barricades could block Islamabad in anticipation of a planned Oct 4 protest by Imran’s Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) opposition party.

Javid ur Rehman, a 35-year-old truck driver, has ceased such trips, citing the police's habit of seizing vehicles and containers, leaving drivers in distress. Steel shipping containers packed with sand and welded together have lined roads leading to Islamabad since weeks ago, in preparation for the march, which had been postponed from Sept 27.

The former prime minister was detained in 2023 following his removal by parliament, and all convictions, except one, have been dismissed or overturned, with appeals pending. However, Imran’s party continues to face state scrutiny, suppressing participation in recent protests.

This situation is not a proper way to halt protests, according to Rana Mohammad Aslam, the president of the Karachi Goods Carrier Association. Authorities started halting vehicles around Sept 5, weeks prior to the original march date, he added. The containers are strategically placed to be deployed at crucial entry points into Islamabad, an area larger than Singapore.

Transporters facing surging prices are unable to afford having trucks seized. Police requisitioned over 2,000 vehicles in September ahead of the march, many still loaded with cargo and held for days without compensation.

The blockade is affecting routes to Islamabad, the military city of Rawalpindi, and cities including Jhelum, Peshawar, and Attock, as reported by Aslam. Some operators have halted journeys beyond Gujranwala in Punjab, while others have taken alternative routes. Transporters are experiencing mounting expenses, as daily demurrage charges for one container can range from Rs30,000 to Rs40,000 ($110 to $150), in addition to losses from missed deliveries and idle trucks.

Consumer prices surged 10.26% in September compared to a year earlier, while the transport price index rose 27.43%, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Operators are struggling to pay drivers and maintain their fleets, as international shippers still expect payments regardless of the cause for the delay. Discussions are underway to find a resolution, but transporters may resort to staging their own protest if their demands are not met.

For Pervaiz Khan, a 50-year-old father of five, the risks are high enough to keep a load of chemicals parked in Karachi. He loaded his cargo of chemicals at night and expressed concern that his vehicle would not depart from Sindh once it enters Punjab, as that is when their troubles begin. Drivers stranded near Islamabad lament their lost days of work or earnings, emphasizing that if the roads reopen, their children's livelihoods will too.

"If not, we will just keep standing," said Sagheer Ahmed, 51, whose children depend on his earnings.