ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI: Over 300 activists of religio-political parties were arrested in Rawalpindi and Islamabad under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance on Friday to prevent them from joining a protest planned by Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) at Faizabad on Sunday.

The TLP has announced that it will stage a protest in connection with the death anniversary of those killed during its sit-in at the same place on Nov 25 last year. The religious group had also demanded placing the name of Aasia Bibi in the Exit Control List (ECL).

After the issuance of arrest warrants for over 100 activists in Islamabad, police teams raided different parts of the capital late on Friday and rounded up 98 people.

Police pick 98 activists of TLP in Islamabad, 205 in Rawalpindi district to thwart their plan to hold a protest at Faizabad today

The arrested people were produced in the court of a magistrate on Saturday from where they were sent to Adiala Jail.

“TLP activists were arrested to avoid any untoward incident and hold sit-ins in any part of the district,” Deputy Commissioner Rawalpindi Omer Jehangir told Dawn.

He said 205 people picked from different parts of the district had been shifted to Adiala Jail.

“Life in the city is perfectly normal and there is no hindrance of any sort. People can go about their daily life,” he said.

So far, the activists have been detained for 15 days to prevent them from taking part in the protest, said a police officer in Islamabad.

More arrests are expected and warrants will be issued against other activists. In this regard, the Special Branch has been asked to collect information about the protest and those who were expected to participate in it, including teachers and students of seminaries, he added.

Moreover, separate teams, comprising officials of the police and the capital administration, were holding talks with the administrations of seminaries to prevent their teachers and students from taking part in the protest.

The police officer said assurance was being obtained from the seminaries that their students would not participate in the protest and those refusing to cooperate would be taken into custody under the MPO.

Police will be deployed outside any seminary whose administration refuses or is reluctant to give an assurance not to participate in the protest.

The police would arrest anyone leaving such a madressah to participate in the protest on Sunday, he added.

Meanwhile, 3,000 policemen, including the Counter-Terrorism Force, Anti-Terrorism Squad, Anti-Riot Unit, commandos and 1,000 personnel of Rangers and 500 personnel of Frontier Constabulary will be on security duty in the capital on Sunday.

The Red Zone will be sealed partially, the officer said, adding that containers had been brought to all the entry points of the capital, including Faizabad, and put along the roadsides to use them if the protesters tried to enter the capital from Rawalpindi and other areas.

The deputy commissioner of Rawalpindi added that Section 144 had been imposed in the district under which no rally and gathering of over four people would be allowed.

According to sources, on the directions of the Home Department, the Rawalpindi police launched the crackdown on the TLP leadership and activists who were planning to take out rallies and stage a protest at Faizabad.

Firebrand cleric Mufti Haneef Qureshi was arrested by the Sadiqabad police and shifted to the lock-up.

Similarly, a police team led by Station House Officer (SHO) Rawat Haji Tariq arrested former TLP candidate for NA-59 Malik Mohammad Taj.

Rawat police also rounded up the caretaker of Jamia Rashidia, Qari Yousuf Rashidi, who belongs to the JUI-F.

About six activists of the TLP were picked from Mandra.

Police also raided seminaries in Kallar Syedan and picked six activists of the TLP. In Gujar Khan, more than 25 activists of the religious group were held and shifted to jail.

Police also launched a crackdown in Attock, Taxila, Chakwal and Jhelum and arrested 102 activists and leaders of the TLP and shifted them to jails.

As many as 20 TLP activists from various parts Taxila and Wah were rounded up in a midnight swoop on Friday.

Meanwhile, City Police Officer (CPO) Abbas Ahsan deployed heavy contingents of police on G.T. Road and at Chakri Interchange to thwart any possible attempt by the TLP workers to block the road. The police were being assisted by Punjab Rangers.

The New Town police held a number of shopkeepers who refused to close their businesses on the direction of the police. The police also instructed petrol pump owners to stop selling fuel after midnight.

The district government and police brought containers at Nawaz Sharif Park, Double Road, Liaquat Bagh, Committee Chowk, Katcheri and Airport Road to block the roads.

Published in Dawn, November 25th, 2018