RAWALPINDI: Two buses taking 225 police personnel from Rawalpindi to Islamabad were attacked by stick-wielding protesters near Shakarparian early Sunday.

Though none of the policemen was injured, the buses were damaged, a senior police officer told Dawn.

On the other hand, three local PTI leaders were arrested in Attock and sent to jail for 30 days under section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO).

Soon after PTI chairman Imran Khan ordered his supporters to march on the Prime Minister House on Saturday night, the party supporters in Rawalpindi took to the streets at Moti Mahal Chowk, Chandni Chowk and Faizabad and blocked the roads by burning old tyres.

Regional Police Officer (RPO) Akhtar Umar Hayat Laleka called extra personnel from Attock, Jhelum and sent about 225 of the policemen from the police lines to Islamabad.

As the two police buses were taking the riot policemen to the Red Zone in Islamabad, stick-wielding and stone-throwing protesters attacked them at Shakarparian. However, the policemen escaped unhurt and reached the high security area.

About 200 to 250 PTI activists took out a rally at Choor Chowk. Carrying placards and chanting anti-government slogans, they marched on Peshawar Road. Besides, a group of PTI protesters also gathered at Lulial Chowk in the Airport police area and blocked the road.

Another protest rally, led by Rashid Hafiz, a PTI MPA, was brought out from Rehmanabad which later marched toward Faizabad. Another rally was taken out by PTI leader Mohammad Ali in Sadiqabad. However, the police succeeded in dispersing all the rallies.

Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2014