ISLAMABAD, Oct 8: Families of 30 missing people reportedly picked up by security personnel staged a demonstration and sit-in in front of the headquarters of an intelligence agency on Sunday and demanded information about their loved ones.

The situation turned tense when Amina Masood, who was leading the demonstrators refused to end the sit-in till the breaking of fast.

A detachment of police women was called to arrest the protesters, but the demonstrators agreed to disperse peacefully.

Officials of the Islamabad Capital Territory administration also played a role in persuading the protesters to disperse.

The demonstrators, including children and women, had moved to the area in a procession from Aabpara square. They were carrying placards and portraits of missing men and chanting slogans against President Pervez Musharraf and security agencies.

Ms Amina Masood told Dawn that wives and children of the missing people had set up a camp in front of the Supreme Court of Pakistan several days ago but neither the government nor the court had so far provided any relief to them.

Ms Masood whose husband Masood Janjua was picked up on July 23, 2003, from Rawalpindi said her two small daughters accompanied her during the demonstration and they too were fasting.

She said none of the affected families knew under what charges their bread-winners had been detained, except a baseless allegation that they had links with Al Qaeda. She said that earlier only two to three people were raising their voice against illegal detentions, but now their number has increased to 30.

Besides, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement has provide us a list of 35 people who had been held in Karachi, she said.