Five detained PTI activists released after brief clash between police and protestors

Dawn.com Published September 16, 2014

ISLAMABAD: A brief clash broke out between police and participants of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) sit-in in the Red Zone area of Islamabad early on Tuesday after five of the party's activists were detained by policemen.

Five PTI activists were heading from Islamabad's Nadra chowk towards the sit-in venue when they were detained by policemen deputed on the spot.

As soon as the news of the arrests reached the sit-in participants they were instructed by party leaders to move towards Radio Pakistan building to hold peaceful protests against the arrests.

Police personnel deputed on the spot tried to resist the advance of the protestors which resulted in a clash which lasted almost half an hour.

After the scuffle ended appeals were made from the loudspeakers of PTI chief Imran Khan's container for the release of the detained activists.

Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) President Raheeq Abbasi also asked the police from PAT chief Tahirul Qadri's container to release the arrested PTI workers to avoid any untoward incident.

Police later released the detained PTI activists.

It was not clear who had given the call to change the site of protest. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur belonging to the PTI was the only party leader present at the venue who was trying to control the mob.

PTI supporters moved back to their original sit-in venue where they celebrated the release of their detained colleagues.

PTI and PAT have been holding anti-government protests over corruption and election rigging allegations in the federal capital of Islamabad since August 14, 2014.

After several rounds of agitation, mediation and dialogues, a deadlock prevails on the PTI’s demand seeking resignation of elected Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Pakistan

IHC suspends local government elections in Islamabad

Pakistan aiming to become competitive destination for long-term investment, CDF Munir tells minerals moot

Islamabad to become country's first fully cashless city by year-end

buzzer

Sep 16, 2014 02:31am

"Policemen deputed on the spot"???? What the heck does that mean? I hope it doesn't mean Gullu Butts given a uniform and a badge.

Recommend 0

Jawad

Sep 16, 2014 02:37am

I wrote yesterday too. Intentional efforts by police higher ups and PMLN for fassaad. So they get an excuse for using brutal force. They are using police jawaans as a bait. They want crowd to do tashuddad on these qurbaani ke bakray so they can justify bringing in Gullus.

Recommend 0

Imran

Sep 16, 2014 02:41am

Of great interest should be the emergence of "Imran's Army" as seen in the videos related to this scuffle; a number of baton yielding PTI members were wearing black shirts with these markings. Is this phenomenon similar to that of "Brown Shirts" or "Black Shirts" observed before the Second World War in Europe? A correspondence is very disturbing.

Recommend 0

optimist

Sep 16, 2014 02:46am

At this hour the participants are going back to their home and not moving towards the auit-in area. BBC and Pakistan TV channels are reporting different to the reporting of Dawn.

Recommend 0

Tangerine

Sep 16, 2014 03:35am

Sick to the core of this zid bazi. Both sides are being stubborn.

Recommend 0

salman

Sep 16, 2014 03:57am

Police need clear orders. Either they are going to arrest or not. What is this arrest and release rubbish? Personally, I think this govt strategy of arresting is not going to work. ...what do they think....people wont resist arrest? People have lost thier fear....gullu tactics wont work anymore.

Recommend 0

A Ahmed

Sep 16, 2014 04:08am

There is no reason for the arrested to be released. Police have a duty to perform, they are invested with the responsibility of determining who or what is a threat or is breaking the law. Further its the role of the judiciary to determine whether said arrests are ultimately valid or not. Its not the job of Imran or Qadri to determine whether the arrests are justified. Ironic then, that IK who demands justice, has no qualms about dictating to those who's responsibility it is to oversee the law.

Recommend 0

A Ahmed

Sep 16, 2014 04:10am

The PTI protestors can get away with murder, and if the police respond then its the govt trying to create a situation. These deluded fools need to be cleared by any means. Enough of this drama.

Recommend 0

Emad Shah

Sep 16, 2014 04:38am

Have u guys seen the recent videos circulating on Social media, i.e. where Rehman Malik and a PMLN MNA are asked to leave a PIA flight from Karachi to Islamabad due to them being late by 2 hours and every one being made to wait for them. This is real change, the common man, is standing up to these VIPs. So proud of this. Inshallah the longer Nawaz clings on his badsha-hat the more people will unite under PTI's umbrella of change and more and more scenes like this PIA flight, Police resigning etc will happen. Imran Khan has truly united Pakistanis in a way no other leader has in the modern era.

Recommend 0

Sep 16, 2014 05:46am

We people living close to this D Chock are not living save anymore. We are scared walking out side out houses because of this protesters roaming around with their stick and other wapens in their hands We feel threatened by these mob who is being charged and protected IK and Qadri so much so that they are now arrogant. We have been hostage for over a month with noise of loud speakers music till passt mid night and no one seems to think we have rights to live in peace in our houses. I ask IK and Dr. Qadri to at least respect others in the neighbor hood. Dr. Qadri at least should know living in Canada people lives and neighborhoods are protected and respected if not the police has a right to intervene.

Recommend 0

Jawad

Sep 16, 2014 06:52am

And here NS thought that IK dharna will be over in few days tops. He must be scratching his head now -- what to do ??? Best way out for him--- army takes over and he will be the hero once again while IK takes the blame for bringing Martial Law. Best thing army can do is stay away. ( which they are successfully doing ). Worried that eventually NS may bring in his Gullus to cause riots eventually leading to Martial Law. Best case scenario for IK. Is that army stays away and NS ? NS keep on doing what he's been doing.

Recommend 0

sunny

Sep 16, 2014 07:00am

At the moment people want and calling Go Nawaz Go. IK has made one nation the real democracy by the people. Happy to see protestors at PIA flight departing without status quo guys.

Recommend 0

Jawad

Sep 16, 2014 07:09am

@Emad Shah Didn't see it but did Reman Malik try to tell people that it's unconstitutional not to wait for his highness ?

Recommend 0

Weirdity

Sep 16, 2014 07:54am

There is no law and order in pakistan. IK and his merry followers have the law into a joke.

Recommend 0

Nadeem Afzal

Sep 16, 2014 09:54am

Way to go Imran Khan and PTI workers.... It is high time to stand up for ones democratic rights to participate in peaceful protests and teach NSharif's Gulu Butts a leason... Keep the good work up.

Recommend 0

shakeel ahmed

Sep 16, 2014 10:27am

It should be noted that the day will come when PML n worker would also arrested from the other ruler when nawaz regim will be ended. our ruler not take any lesson from the past but when come to govt. they use the forces of political rival support to detain in jail and use the police force to arrest them. It should be end and all political party should condemn this kind of arrest. It is the first time we are looking in our country there is no protest with agition strike and riot involved in the protest it is the positive sign in the politics of pakistan.

Recommend 0

Dija

Sep 16, 2014 11:55am

How many protestants will the government lock up as this revolution is not restricted to the red zone only; this tehreek has spread throughout the country like a fire!

Recommend 0

Flood In Pakistan

Sep 16, 2014 01:24pm

Lets see what will be happened ?

Recommend 0

Mariam

Sep 16, 2014 03:22pm

It seems to me that the police keep instigating the protesters to cause a surge of violence so that the govt can then blame IK

Recommend 0

Mariam

Sep 16, 2014 03:27pm

@A Ahmed The arrests made by the police are illegal. Even the IHC has given an order that as long as the protest is peaceful, it can carry on. So why are they arresting people for attending the dharna? Some people were arrested who were just passing by! Not even participating in the dharna! This is just a tactic by the govt to scare the protesters so that numbers decrease or to instigate violence.

Recommend 0