ISLAMABAD, March 21: Rawalpindi police arrested more than 200 workers and activists of opposition political parties on Tuesday night aimed at restraining them from participating in a protest rally on Wednesday in front of the Supreme Court building, sources told Dawn.

However, in Islamabad no arrest was made as the Islamabad police changed their strategy at the eleventh hour.

The workers had been kept in lockups of different police stations of Rawalpindi.

The sources said they might be detained under the MPO (Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance).

However, the district coordination officer or deputy district officers will decide their fate (they will either be freed or presented in the court of law for further legal action).

Meanwhile, hundreds of police personnel were deployed at different entrance point of Islamabad, including Islamabad Highway and Murree Road to stop lawyers, activists and workers of political parties, traders, transporters and general public from entering the capital.

No police official of the twin cities police, including Senior Superintendent of Police Islamabad and District Police Officer of Rawalpindi, was available for comments.