Mobile services were suspended in parts of Peshawar starting Wednesday night as a security measure ahead of the anticipated arrival of the PTI protest march. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority confirmed that this temporary suspension was ordered by the federal interior ministry, although officials from the provincial government did not comment on the move. Private schools in some areas also unexpectedly closed due to the disrupted communication, though government educational institutions remained open.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-08,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Sohail Afridi, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister and leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has remained defiant in his stance regarding the party's planned march to Islamabad on October 4, despite warnings from the federal government. The protest aims to demand the release of jailed PTI founder Imran Khan. Afridi insists that protesters will proceed with their plan and reach Swabi, which borders Punjab, in the first phase of the march. The KP CM used a state helicopter to travel to Lakki Marwat on Sunday to lead the march, despite criticism from Information Minister Attaullah Tarar for violating an Islamabad High Court order.
Strict security measures have been put in place along the route, with large police contingents and bomb disposal squads deployed. PTI supporters led by former KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur began their journey from Dera Ismail Khan, emphasizing a commitment to peaceful protests. The government had previously requested that the PTI call off its protest but failed to reach an agreement in talks held on October 2 and 3, 2026. Despite these efforts, hundreds of supporters have begun marching towards Islamabad, with the federal government warning against allowing protesters into the city.
The planned march has heightened tensions between the opposition and the current government, led by Shehbaz Sharif, who sees Khan as a main political rival. The PTI continues to assert its demands for Khan's release amid allegations of politically motivated charges that they claim are baseless. Security remains tight as the protest continues, with supporters expected to march over several days towards Islamabad. The government and opposition remain at an impasse despite multiple rounds of negotiations, highlighting the ongoing political crisis in Pakistan.
Written for “PTI Long March To Islamabad” on 2026-10-08,
grounded in this article and the 22 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it +0.30, but all 2 of its quote(s) are attributed speech - words the article quotes from someone, not the article's own narration, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 65290: attributed speech only · logged 2026-10-08
Large parts of the provincial capital remained without mobile and cellular internet services on Thursday in an unannounced suspension that started last night, Dawn has learnt.
asserted
Dawn → remain → suspension
The move comes as PTI’s long march, launched on Oct 4 from Lakki Marwat, is set to reach Peshawar today according to PTI’s schedule.
uncertain
march → come → schedule
The protest march to demand the release of party founder and ex-premier Imran Khan had reached the Khyber district by Wednesday evening.
asserted
march → demand → evening
Though there was no word from the provincial government on the unannounced cellular disruption, a Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) official confirmed to Dawn that the authority had ordered the suspension at the directives of the federal interior ministry.
asserted
authority → be → ministry
The official told Dawn the suspension was temporary and taken as a security precaution during the long march.
asserted
suspension → tell → march
The official said the ministry orders were conveyed on Wednesday night.
asserted
orders → say → night
Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Home and Tribal Affairs Tariq Saeed Marwat did not respond to whether his department requested the interior ministry cell phone service suspension.
asserted
department → respond → suspension
Meanwhile, some major private schools across Peshawar also remained closed on Thursday.
asserted
schools → remain → Thursday
However, government schools, colleges and universities remained open.
asserted
schools → remain → ?
Many parents found out about the school closure on Thursday morning when their children returned home after finding the school gates locked.
asserted
gates → find → home
Yousaf Khan, a resident of Ring Road, told Dawn that he found out on Thursday morning.
asserted
he → tell → morning
“My children were told at the school gate to go back,” he said, adding that he did not hear about the closure due to the suspension of cellular service.
asserted
he → tell → service
“Due to the prevailing political situation in the city, the school will remain closed tomorrow, i.e, on Oct 8”, a notice from one of the private schools read, adding that classes will resume from Friday.
asserted
classes → prevail → Friday
However, Private Schools Regulatory Authority (PSRA) officials said no order for school closure was issued, and action will be taken against schools that remained closed without government directions.
asserted
that → say → directions
The authority has also written to the principals of all private schools, stating that certain private educational institutions had been closed by their respective administrations in connection with the ongoing long march, without any notification from the PSRA.
“In view of the above, all heads/principals/administrators of private educational institutions are hereby directed to keep their respective institutions open and ensure regular academic activities until clear directions/notification are issued by this authority,” the letter, seen by Dawn, read.
asserted
letter → write → Dawn
It said that failure to comply with the directions would be viewed seriously, and strict disciplinary action would be initiated against the concerned institution/management under the relevant rules and regulations.
PTI’s march began from Lakki Marwat on Oct 4, from where the protesters trekked to Kohat on the second day and arrived in Mattani, located on the outskirts of Peshawar, that night.
asserted
protesters → say → Peshawar
While the plan for the trek after Oct 8 is yet to be announced, the PTI previously announced Islamabad as its final destination.
asserted
PTI → announce → destination
The Centre has warned the party against any protests or gatherings in Islamabad.
asserted
Centre → warn → Islamabad
However, the PTI decided to embark on the march after weekend talks with the federal government failed to bridge their differences for multiple reasons, particularly over the counterterrorism policy.
asserted
talks → decide → policy
The Aporia
