Asad Qaiser, Saad Rafique miss Skardu flights amid airport traffic blockade

Senior politicians Asad Qaiser of PTI and Khawaja Saad Rafique of PML-N both missed their flights to Skardu on Saturday after being caught in a major traffic jam caused by a blockade near Islamabad’s airport. Both were travelling to Gilgit-Baltistan for their respective parties’ election campaigns.

Qaiser accused Punjab police of deliberately preventing him from reaching the airport, claiming he was held in detention for 40 minutes until after his flight had departed. He condemned the incident as political victimisation and an attempt to influence the GB elections.

Rafique also reported being stuck in the blockade, stating that he and at least 12 other passengers on his flight were unable to reach the airport in time. He said no “reasonable explanation” was provided for the traffic obstruction, which inconvenienced numerous travellers, including women, children, and the elderly.

Opposition leaders termed the incident a form of “pre-poll rigging” and a violation of democratic freedoms. They pointed out that while their leaders were being hindered, sitting federal ministers were freely campaigning in the region. The incident comes a day after another PTI MNA, Junaid Akbar, was expelled from Gilgit-Baltistan while campaigning.