In response to the ongoing protest by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) at Liaquat Bagh Chowk, Rawalpindi, the Metro Bus Authority has kept three key metro stations—Marir Chowk, Liaquat Bagh, and Waris Khan—closed for the past nine days. This closure has caused significant inconvenience for passengers.
Passengers from Marir Chowk are now forced to board at the Saddar Stop, which has been particularly challenging for female students. Those usually boarding at Liaquat Bagh Chowk must now alight at Committee Chowk or Saddar, while passengers at Waris Khan are redirected to Chandni Chowk, causing major disruptions on these routes.
The closure has also led to a decline in passenger numbers on the metro bus, resulting in financial losses for the Metro Bus Authority.
A spokesperson for the authority stated that the closures are a necessary response to the sit-in and will remain in effect as long as the protest continues.
Passengers have voiced their concerns, arguing that since other transportation services are operating normally alongside the protest, the metro stops should not be fully closed. They propose that one side of these stops be reopened with stringent security measures in place.