Newlyweds forced to take motorcycle ride amid roadblocks in Pakistan

Gulf Today Report

In Punjab provincial capital Lahore, the ongoing protests organised by the former PM Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) party caused significant disruptions in the city’s traffic, leaving citizens facing severe difficulties.

Punjab in general and Lahore in particular came to a grinding halt after the entire intercity bus operation — particularly routes leading to Islamabad and Rawalpindi — were suspended. Even those travelling on personal transport also faced great difficulties in exiting or entering the provincial capital.

Most functions, especially the wedding parties coming from various cities to Shahdara, Kasur, Phoolnagar and Sheikhupura failed to reach Lahore, forcing the families to cancel the events.

One of the more unusual scenes witnessed on the streets involved a newlywed couple.

Due to road closures caused by the protest, the groom was forced to transport his bride on a motorcycle, as traditional wedding transportation could not make its way through the blocked routes, as per Express News.

The incident occurred at Batti Chowk, where traffic had been completely halted, leading to a near standstill of daily life in the area.

A video surfaced showing the bride walking toward the motorcycle before getting on to travel to her new home. The video quickly went viral as people found the situation both unusual and unfortunate.

The traffic closures, part of the PTI's protest, not only impacted everyday commuters but also caused distress for individuals with urgent needs. One such case involved a family from Shahdara, where a sick child needed to be rushed to the hospital.

Due to the traffic jam, the family had no choice but to walk to the hospital with the child and an oxygen cylinder in tow.

This was not the first instance of disruptions due to the ongoing protests. The day before, two other wedding processions were trapped in traffic jams and, after significant pleading, were allowed to proceed.

The situation highlights the growing impact of the protests on public life, as citizens, including those with medical emergencies and wedding celebrations, find themselves caught in the chaos caused by the protests.

 Also during the day, communication services across Pakistan were hit by significant disruptions as the PTI gears up for its much-anticipated "do-or-die" protest in Islamabad.

Major cities like Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, and Rawalpindi have reported interruptions in mobile internet and other services, causing inconvenience for residents and businesses alike.