KARACHI, Feb 10: Police used baton-charge, fired teargas and shots into the air to disperse protesters near Abdullah Haroon Road on Friday when they ‘defied the security arrangement in the red zone’ in an attempt to march on the US consulate to mark the second anniversary of Dr Aafia Siddiqui’s conviction by an American court.

The episode caused massive traffic jams in the Saddar area, particularly on Abdullah Haroon Road, M.R. Kiyani Road, Dr Ziauddin Ahmed Road, I.I. Chundrigarh Road and adjoining arteries.

The protest was organised by Pasban.

The police also picked up Dr Fouzia Siddiqui, Dr Aafia’s elder sister, and Pasban President Altaf Shakoor, and other participants and released them after some time.

“It was formally conveyed to the rally organisers that their activity would be halted by force if they defied the set rules,” said DIG (south) Shaukat Ali Shah.

“Actually the area is heavily guarded and called a red zone because of its sensitivity. Rallies, protests and other activities that may compromise the security arrangements are officially banned for almost a month.”

He said the police fired teargas and shots into the air only to disperse the crowd that insisted on entering the red zone from Abdullah Haroon Road.

“The police fired only a few teargas shells that proved enough to disperse the crowd. There was no injury reported to anyone nor did the police make any arrests,” the DIG added.

The Pasban leaders, however, claimed that nearly a dozen activists sustained injuries due to ‘police brutality’. “We were peaceful and only marching to the US consulate to register our protest. We were raising our voice on a national issue but our peaceful activity was ruined by the police,” said a Pasban spokesman.