ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Traffic Police on Friday issued a detailed traffic advisory for March 6, 2026, as authorities brace for possible demonstrations in the capital following last week’s violent protests over the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
It comes in the wake of violent demonstrations held in Islamabad on March 1, when protesters gathered at Aabpara Chowk and attempted to march toward the Diplomatic Enclave and the U.S. Embassy to condemn Khamenei’s killing in U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Tehran. Police imposed Section 144 and used heavy tear gas shelling to disperse the crowds, leaving at least two people dead in the capital.
The unrest was not confined to Islamabad as major cities including Karachi, Lahore, and Quetta witnessed similar protests, with Karachi experiencing the worst violence. Nationwide, at least 20 people were reported killed and dozens injured. In Karachi alone, 11 deaths were confirmed as clashes erupted near the U.S. Consulate.
The violence led the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad and its Consulates in Lahore and Karachi to suspend all visa appointments through March 6 due to the worsening security situation in Pakistan.
Authorities in Islamabad have since tightened security in the Red Zone, declaring all gatherings unlawful.
A spokesman for the Traffic Police said alternative routes had been determined “in view of the convenience of citizens and the prevailing law and order situation.” He added that all common entrances leading to the Red Zone would remain closed, though Margalla Road and the roads near the hotel had been kept open for controlled entry.
According to the advisory, traffic from Polyclinic to Lal Quarter Chowk (Laqman Hakim Road) will be diverted, with commuters instructed to use Saddar Road. Similarly, vehicles coming from Club Road will be rerouted from Kashmir Chowk to Srinagar Highway, from where they can access Seventh Avenue or Margalla Road. Citizens have been urged to plan their journeys accordingly and cooperate with traffic officials to avoid inconvenience.
Friday’s traffic advisory is seen as part of broader measures to prevent further escalation, particularly as religious groups have signaled plans for renewed demonstrations.
