LAKKI MARWAT, Aug 3: An armed mob blocked the Indus Highway at Taja Zai on Saturday to protest against the handing over of an alleged carjacker to the Punjab police.

According to reports, Khan Badshah, son of Mir Abbas Khan, was arrested by Lakki Marwat police at Taja Zai village, about 16km from here, on charges of involvement in dealing of stolen vehicles.

He faced a number of trials in the local courts and was granted bail in some of those.

But he was handed over to the Punjab police under a court order as he was wanted in some carjacking cases in Bahawalpur. He was shifted to Punjab.

The village elders held a meeting presided over by the brother of the accused, Shaista Khan, following which a group of armed people blocked the Indus Highway.

They demanded the release of Khan Badshah and claimed that he was innocent. The mob set ablaze dozens of tyres. Thousands of vehicles queued on the blocked roads.

Eyewitnesses said some protesters fired aerial shots with AK-47 rifles.

District Police Officer Sajjad Afzal, Union Council-I, Lakki, Nazim Dr Khalid Latif Khan Mina Khel and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Fazl) District President Maulana Abdur Rahim held talks with the protesters.