ISLAMABAD: Despite the Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) issuing a detailed advisory earlier today to manage diversions for foreign delegations, the federal capital has descended into chaos, with major roads leading to courts and key office areas gridlocked for hours.
The ITP’s carefully planned diversions—meant to facilitate the movement of foreign dignitaries—have failed to prevent massive traffic jams.
Roads such as Club Road, Embassy Road, and Srinagar Highway are now clogged with thousands of stranded vehicles, leaving commuters, court staff, and office workers trapped in endless queues.
Media reporters and workers, themselves stuck in the gridlock, have expressed frustration and irony at the situation. One reporter remarked:
وزیر داخلہ محسن نقوی صاحب اسلام اباد کو سگنل فری بنانے کے لیے بڑی محنت کر رہے۔۔۔لیکن اس کے ساتھ ساتھ ایک اور کام بھی بڑی محنت اور مہارت سے کیا جا رہا ہے۔۔آئے روز کوئی بھی روڈ پر بیرک لگا کر بند کر دو۔۔۔پھر عوام ذلیل اور خوار ہوتی رہے۔۔ویلڈن محسن نقوی۔۔۔ pic.twitter.com/QLki9EFBk4
— Sadaqat Saqi (@sadaqatsaqi05) July 21, 2026
“Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi Sahib is working very hard to make Islamabad signal-free… But along with that, another task is also being done with great effort and skill… Every day, someone sets up barricades on the road and blocks it… Then the public continues to be humiliated and disgraced… Well done Mohsin Naqvi.”
Senior court reporter Saqib Bashir highlighted the lack of preparedness by the authorities, stating:
“If just a little bit of anything happens today, Islamabad Traffic Police has no plan for it. Right now, on Club Road, Embassy Road, Srinagar Highway, thousands of vehicles are stuck. These are the people who need to reach their offices, courts, and such.”
تھوڑی سا کوئی آجائے تو اسلام آباد ٹریفک پولیس کے پاس کوئی پلان نہیں ہوتا اس وقت کلب روڈ ایمبیسی روڈ سری نگر ہائی وے ہزاروں گاڑیاں پھنسی ہوئی ہیں
یہ وہ لوگوں ہیں جو دفاتر میں عدالتوں تک پہنچنے والے ہیں pic.twitter.com/j1AZVjBSKb— Saqib Bashir (@saqibbashir156) July 21, 2026
The absence of a robust contingency plan has left commuters stranded for hours, with many missing critical appointments, court hearings, and work deadlines.
Public Outcry and Calls for Accountability
The public’s patience is wearing thin, with many questioning the effectiveness of the advisory and the management of diversions.
Social media platforms are flooded with complaints, with citizens demanding immediate action to clear the roads and restore order. Commuters too are calling for better coordination between the ITP and other agencies.
