Roads were empty and certain routes were blocked in major cities across the country as religious parties continued to protest for a second day on Thursday following a Supreme Court verdict acquitting Asia Bibi, a Christian woman sentenced to death over blasphemy allegations.

Although, most of the routes that were closed a day earlier in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad have now been opened for traffic, some are still blocked.

In Karachi, traffic has been blocked at nine places owing to the ongoing protests. Star Gate at Shahrah-e-Faisal, Numaish, Liaquatabad No 10, Sohrab Goth, Korangi No 5, Bara Board, Baldia No 4 and New Karachi have been blocked for traffic.

Meanwhile, in Lahore, Charring Cross at Mall Road, Data Darbar and Shahdara Chowk have been blocked.

The Rawalpindi-Islamabad Faizabad Interchange is also blocked.

According to a motorways spokesperson, Pindi Bhattian-Lahore, Pindi Bhattian-Faisalabad and Faisalabad-Gojra motorway are blocked for traffic.

Trains and flights are, however, operating as per schedule. 

Earlier, on Wednesday, following the protests, Section 144 was imposed across Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan barring the gathering of more than four persons in public places as well as pillion riding. Section 144 has been imposed till November 10.

All educational institutes across Punjab will remain closed today in light of the traffic and law and order situation in the country, a spokesperson for the provincial government confirmed.

In Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, however, only the private educational institutes will remain closed, while all schools, colleges, and universities in Balochistan are expected to remain open as per schedule.

The Punjab government spokesperson added that intermediate exams slated for Thursday under all secondary education boards have been postponed and that a new date will be disclosed later.

The School Education Department, in light of the expected traffic situation today, has also announced a holiday, while the University of Engineering has deferred the exams that were scheduled for today.

Private educational institutes in all of KP's districts, including Peshawar, are also to remain closed today.