ISLAMABAD, Sept 24: Security forces on Monday managed to stop leaders and activists of political parties in the All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) from proceeding to the Supreme Court building and holding a demonstration there as the crackdown on them continued for the third day.

Over 200 opposition activists and a former senior minister of the NWFP were arrested on Monday.

Incidents of sporadic violence took place at some places in the capital and police stopped the workers opposition parties from reaching the apex court.

“The government has decided to keep all arrested politicians and activists in detention till October 7 so that they could not create any disturbance during the presidential elections scheduled to be held on October 6,” a senior government official told Dawn.

Hundreds of JI activists, led by party’s NWFP chief Sirajul Haq, gathered on Fazle Haq Road near the Parliament Lodges with an intention to march to the Supreme Court building to protest against the arrest of APDM leaders and workers. Law-enforcement personnel resorted to baton-charge when the activists tried to enter the restricted area.

Sources said that law-enforcement agencies had also arrested 150 JI activists from Faizabad, Sector I-10, Tarnol and Golra.

A senior police officer said that former NWFP senior minister Sirajul Haq, Syed Bilal Ahmed, Mohammad Sabir Ayub and Chaudhry Ilyas Mehrban Khan were among those arrested on Monday. They were sent to the Adiala jail.Besides, 30 other activists of the PML-N and the MMA were booked by the Rawalpindi police for violating the Section 144 and sent to the Adiala jail.Around 2,000 police and Rangers personnel have been called to maintain law and order in the capital.

Roadblocks were placed on many entry points and traffic was diverted. All roads and entry points leading to Islamabad were sealed.Our Reporter in Lahore adds: Markazi Jamiat-i-Ahle Hadith leader Senator Professor Sajid Mir was arrested in Jhelum.According to Jamiat sources, Professor Mir was accused of raising slogans against General Musharraf.