February 20, 2006	Monday	Muharram 21, 1427

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ATTOCK, Feb 19: GT Road in Attock District remained closed for 12 hours on Sunday after the police set up barricades at various points, including Attock bridge, to stop religious and opposition parties activists and leaders from proceeding to Islamabad to join the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal’s protest rally against blasphemous cartoons.

However, no incident of violence or arrest was reported from anywhere.

Heavy police force had been deployed early Sunday morning at all entry points of the district, including Attock bridge and Haro bridge on GT Road, Shergarh bridge on Kohat-Pindi road and Jahrikus on Hazara-Pindi. Besides, other main roads were sealed by erecting barricades to restrict the rallies from the NWFP and Attock to processed to Islamabad. This caused great inconvenience to the commuters.

The NWFP procession, comprising over 1,000 activists of religious parties and a large number of vehicles, was intercepted at Attock bridge by a heavy contingent of police, led by district police officer (DPO) Attock.

On this, the participants got infuriated and started to raise slogan against the police and the government. However, after some time, they turned back.

Meanwhile, exchange of harsh words took place between the police officials of Nowshera and Attock. The incident took place when DPO Nowshera Akhtar Hayat, along with 50 policemen, came to the Attock bridge and asked the officials of Attock police to remove the blockade and obstacles immediately as the area fell in the jurisdiction of Nowshera police, sources said.

On refusal, the DPO ordered his subordinates to arrest ASP Attock Amin Khan and Rangu Police Station SHO Abid Khan, but due to timely interference of DPO Attock Capt (retired) Malik Zafar Iqbal Awan and District Coordination Officer Attock Babar Khan Nasir, he could not do so, the sources said.

The situation worsened when DPO Nowshera ordered his force to remove the obstacle from the road by force.

On getting information, District Nazim Attock Maj (retired) Tahir Sadik and officials of other law-enforcement agencies also rushed to the spot and the matter was brought to the notice of inspectors general police (IGPs) Punjab and the NWFP. And, after a brief telephonic conversation between the two police chiefs, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Police, Mardan Division (NWFP), Dr Suleman was sent to handle the issue.

The tension defused when the DIG, after a brief discussion with the administration of Attock district, asked the DPO Nowshera to report to his district headquarters.

Meanwhile, thousands of protesters once again gathered at the Attock bridge, but the heavy blockade did not allow them to get through.

Protesting against the Attock police, the demonstrators staged a sit-in. Later, in the evening, they dispersed after negotiation with the law-enforcement agencies .

Police had also set up checkposts at various points in the Attock city, including Teenmela More, Haji Shah, Hattian and Lawrencepur chowk, to keep a check on the movement of protesters.