October 8, 2026 — Update to our October 7 story. The opposition PTI march did not head for the Punjab border on Thursday as planned. It entered Peshawar in the evening, and the party published a slower schedule that reaches Swabi on Sunday. Mobile phone and data service has been down in much of Peshawar since Wednesday night.
What changed
- Where the convoy is: It reached Peshawar’s Hayatabad toll plaza at about 6 pm on Thursday, October 8, and was routed through the city toward the Charsadda road.
- New schedule: Charsadda on Friday, October 9; Mardan on Saturday, October 10; Swabi on Sunday, October 11. The party says it will decide the next step in Swabi. One earlier report gave a slightly different order.
- Islamabad: Still no date (TBA).
- Mobile shutdown: Voice and mobile internet were disrupted across large parts of Peshawar from late Wednesday night without notice. A telecom official told Dawn it was a temporary security measure ordered from above. The end time is TBA.
- Emergency rule: No decision. The provincial governor said it would be imposed if the prime minister and president judged it necessary.
- Talks: None under way.
Not reported today
- No clashes, no new motorway closures and no change at the Attock bridge, which was blocked with containers on Wednesday.
- No effect on Islamabad or Peshawar airports or flights.
What it means for airline travelers
- Peshawar through Friday: Expect road diversions and no mobile data. Download boarding passes, maps and hotel details before you arrive, and arrange airport transport by landline or through your hotel.
- The Attock flashpoint has slipped to Sunday or Monday at the earliest. Avoid road travel between Peshawar and Islamabad until the route is clear.
- Islamabad and Lahore: No disruption reported. Leave early for the airport all the same.
- Standby travelers should hold a confirmed backup out of Islamabad or Lahore in case roads close.
- Register with STEP (US) or Registration of Canadians Abroad, and stay away from all gatherings.
Sources
- Dawn: Afridi-led convoy enters Peshawar as PTI long march continues for 5th day
- The Express Tribune: ‘Not your way, not my way’: Gohar urges middle path as PTI long march enters fifth day
- Dawn: Emergency, governor’s rule would ‘definitely’ be imposed if deemed necessary to ‘save’ KP: Kundi
- Bloom Pakistan: Peshawar Mobile Internet Goes Down, PTI Long March Enters City
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