The police action was effective in preventing people from marching through the streets but it triggered several battles with stone-throwing protesters that lasted for hours. However,
no serious injuries were reported.
The rally was originally called by the MMA, whose chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed could not come to Islamabad after he was placed under house arrest in Lahore early in the day, but was also joined by the leaders and activists of the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD).
The government had outlawed public meetings a day before by imposing section 144 Cr.P.C. in the capital. A large number of paramilitary forces had also been deployed to create a security cordon around the capital.
Protesters coming from nearby towns as well as the North West Frontier Province were also not allowed to enter Islamabad, police and opposition sources said.
Police resorted to heavy teargas shelling and fired rubber bullets to disperse the demonstrators who pelted the police with stones. However, no damage to property was reported from any part of the capital.
Movement of vehicles between Rawalpindi and Islamabad was prohibited till sunset and police parties were deployed at all squares and roads which led to Aabpara market and Constitution Avenue.
Residents of Islamabad faced problems due to the road blockade and sealing of the main Faizabad entry point from Rawalpindi, forcing many people to travel the five-km road from there to Islamabad’s Zero Point by foot. Public transport remained suspended in Islamabad throughout the day and all main markets and petrol pumps were closed to avoid any damage.
A big police party was also deployed at Zero Point to stop people from proceeding towards Aabpara, which remained the most disturbed area where people started gathering after 11am, only to be repeatedly dispersed and pushed into the streets of the nearby residential area of G-6/1 sector.
Several teargas shells fell into houses forcing women and children to run outside.
Hide and seek between the protesters and the police continued for many hours and finally the protesters managed to assemble in a big number at Aabpara Chowk at 3pm.
Earlier, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Maulana Fazlur Rehman and some other MMA leaders started a small march from Parliament Lodges and joined the main demonstration at Aabpara.
Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao told the media that Maulana Fazlur Rehman as well as ARD chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim and their senior colleagues were specially allowed to move about in the capital despite the ban on gatherings.
As Maulana Fazlur Rehman was talking to reporters at Aabpara, police suddenly started teargas shelling that led to clashes between police and the demonstrators. Sensing the gravity of the situation, MMA leaders left the venue after which severe shelling of teargas and hurling of stones started.
The demonstration turned into a public meeting where local MMA leaders condemned the police action.
The demonstration ended at about 5pm when local MMA leaders asked the protesters to disperse peacefully.
Earlier, interior ministry secretary Syed Kamal Shah told reporters that no case would be registered against Maulana Fazlur Rehman for violating section 144 because of special permission granted to him to hold the rally. However, he said other people who demonstrated in violation of the ban could be prosecuted.