GUJRAT: Police sprang into action on Friday to quell the anger demonstrated by activists of the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) in many parts of Punjab.

In Gujrat, the police fired teargas shells and resorted to baton-charge of the activists of the sectarian group which had blocked the main GT Road near Gulliani in solidarity with their party’s sit-in in Islamabad.

Police arrested two dozen activists during a crackdown.

The activists had blocked GT Road at some places after Friday prayers due to which traffic remained out of gear between Islamabad and Lahore.

The police said they had to resort to baton-charge and teargas shelling after some of the protesters turned violent and started damaging the public property such as window panes of some furniture showrooms, a coffee shop and vehicles.

The activists in Gujrat, Lalamusa and Sara-i-Alamgir began to disperse once police took action and arrested key figures of the party’s local chapter.

FAISALABAD: Police cracked down on the activists and took several protesters into custody at District Council Chowk.

A number of activists turned up for the protest on the party call, however, the policemen asked them to refrain from blocking the road and staging the protest that would distract law enforcers from performing duty for the Chehlum procession of Hazrat Imam Hussain.

However, the protesters refused to budge and informed the police officials that they would not block the road and disperse peacefully after registering their protest.

The agitators lined up their activists near the District Council gate and some of them allegedly misbehaved with an SP who reached there along with a heavy contingent of police.

Police started to arrest the protesters and also thrashed some of them for raising slogans.

A police officer said activists had been taken into custody as they were not given permission for the protest.

Published in Dawn, November 11th, 2017