RAWALPINDI, Feb 22: The 217 people, including two opposition MNAs, arrested by the local police during the Sunday’s protest against blasphemous caricatures were granted bail by the courts on Wednesday. However, the two MNAs were detained for one month on the directives of the provincial government soon after their release.

Besides hundreds of protesters, MNA Hanif Abbasi of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal and MNA Zamurrad Khan of PPP were arrested on Sunday from different parts of the city during a violent protest against the publication of blasphemous sketches.

The Sunday’s protest was called by the MMA and was also joined by the other opposition parties.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Rawalpindi chapter has planned a public rally on Thursday against the publication of sketches.

The rally, if allowed by the district administration, is scheduled to start from Rabia Manzil and end at Banni Chowk.