Lahore’s administration reportedly sealed all general bus terminals late Saturday night. Intercity services were suspended on Sunday, and passengers were left stranded. Moreover, the closures disrupted travel to Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, southern Punjab and parts of central Punjab.

Passengers faced canceled tickets and suspended departures. Operators also stopped dispatching buses from the city. Therefore, many travelers had no way to reach their destinations.

Major private operators, including Faisal Movers and Daewoo, halted their services as well. Reports pointed to restrictions on public transport along motorways and national highways. Representatives of both companies confirmed that buses were not being dispatched because of those restrictions.

However, motorway police spokesperson Imran Shah said motorways and highways remained open. He added that he knew of no instructions to suspend bus services. Meanwhile, a separate motorway police official, speaking anonymously, linked the suspension to the PTI’s protest call. That official said private vehicles could still use the roads.

The disruption comes amid the PTI’s march demanding Imran Khan’s release. The march began on October 4 and has remained within Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Furthermore, containers were moved to Swabi Interchange and the Indus River bridge on the M-1 to block it.

Still, the motorway and Grand Trunk Road stayed open to traffic. The conflicting statements leave it unclear who ordered the suspension. Finally, the closure of the Lahore bus terminals has left many families and workers without public transport.