GUJRANWALA: Around 70 workers of the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) were arrested from various parts of the district and shifted to police stations on Sunday.

Police launched a crackdown on PAT and PTI workers after violence erupted in Islamabad and also raided their offices and houses.

Meanwhile, PTI workers staged a sit-in at Rawalpindi by-pass and shouted slogans against the government. A heavy contingent of police reached the spot and baton-charged and dispersed the protesters. Over a dozen PTI activists were taken into custody from there and shifted to police stations.

The Sunni Tehreek (ST) also staged a rally against the alleged killings and torture by Islamabad police. The protesters marched from Emanabadi Gate to Sialkoti Gate.

ST District President Muhammad Ikram Babar, Hafiz Tahir Raza and other leaders strongly condemned the alleged torture by police on marchers. They said the rulers were using police as personal employees and had now lost all moral values. They urged the government and protesters to resolve issues through dialogue and avoid violence.

BAHAWALPUR: Activists of PTI, PAT and Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM) from Bahawalpur and Lodhran jointly protested against police action on workers of PTI and PAT in Islamabad.

Hundreds of PIT, PAT and MWM supporters blocked the Bahawalpur-Multan highway near Chamb Kuliar, about 15km from here.

The activists attempted to block the highway bridge over Sutlej river. But heavy police contingent prevented them and warned them of dire consequences. The workers crossed the bridge and reached the highway near Chamb Kuliar village, which fell under the jurisdiction of Lodhran district where they were joined by local PTI workers.

The workers, led by former PTI ticket holders Mian Farzand Ali Goheer and Asghar Joya, blocked the highway for traffic. They held placards inscribed with slogans against the government and demanded Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif resign. A large number of policemen were deployed at the scene to prevent any untoward incident.

Meanwhile, the Bahawalpur Union of Journalists on the call of PFUJ demonstrated at Fawara Chowk to condemn police action against media personnel in Islamabad.

MIANWALI: PTI and PAT activists took out rallies in various parts of district and blocked traffic on Mianwali-Bannu and Mianwali-Rawalpindi roads.

The biggest rally was taken out by PTI workers at Qamar-Mushani, the hometown of PML-N MNA Obaidullah Shadikhel who was elected from here after PTI Chairman Imran Khan vacated this seat.

PTI and PAT workers also took out rallies from Daudkhel and Paki Shah Mardan, respectively, and blocked Mianwali-Kalabagh road for a couple of hours near Daudkhel. Another PTI rally was organised at Musakhel and supporters blocked Mianwali-Rawalpindi road for an hour. Heavy police contingent was present around each rally.

Participants in all rallies condemned the action of the ruling party in Islamabad in which scores of people were injured.

OKARA: Dozens of PTI and PAT workers staged a sit-in in front of the Okara Press Club and before marching through the city bazaar burnt tyres against the baton-charge, teargas shelling and firing of rubber bullets on their fellows in Islamabad.

PTI District President Chaudhry Azhar Mehmood, Advocate Aslam Mughal, Aslam Khan Lodhi and others led the rally through various bazaars. They also set tyres on fire to protest against the tear gas shelling and rubber bullets firing in Islamabad allegedly resulting in over 400 injuries. The workers shouted slogans in favour of Dr Tahirul Qadri and Imran Khan.

TOBA TEK SINGH: Hundreds of PTI workers blocked traffic on Faisalabad-Multan road near Sindhillianwali on Sunday for more than an hour to condemn alleged attack on political activists of PAT and PTI in Islamabad.

In his speech to the protesters, PAT District President Ghulam Shabbir Warraich demanded registration of cases against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.

Scores of PTI activists took out a rally to condemn alleged killing of a protester and injuries to over 500 in Islamabad by police. They reached Shahbaz Sharif Chowk and chanted slogans in favour of Imran Khan and against the prime minister and Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

Journalists also staged a demonstration outside the press club and took out a rally on Jhang Road to condemn Islamabad police for allegedly attacking and manhandling several media persons. They were led by President Manzoor Naz.

In Kamalia also, journalists took out a rally led by press club President Rana Amjad. They chanted slogans against the government for allegedly beating up reporters and cameramen of different TV channels in Islamabad on Saturday night.

KASUR: Police arrested at least 14 PTI workers and office-bearers in the district in a crackdown following raids on their houses.

The arrested workers included Samiullah, Rizwan, Muhammad Arif, Farooq Khan, Abdul Aziz, Nisar Ahmed, Rao Afzal and Faisal Saeed. They were arrested at Ganda Singh, Mustafabad and Kot Radha Kishan.

Scores of PTI workers took out a rally demanding resignation of the prime minister and chief minister. A heavy contingent of police was also present there. Police teams raided houses of the demonstrating workers.

Another rally was taken out by PTI supporters, led by former party ticket holder Sardar Fakhar Ali and Qaisar Ayub, from Baldia Chowk that concluded at Luliani Adda. The protesters raised slogans against the government and demanded the PM and CM step down.

FAISALABAD: Dozens of PTI activists forced shopkeepers of Kutchery Bazaar, D Ground and Sattiana Road to close their shops on Sunday.

Carrying sticks and party flags, the protesters blocked traffic at Kutchery Chowk and Jhal Khanuana Chowk for more than two hours. They chanted slogans against the government for using force on protestors in Islamabad. The shopkeepers kept their businesses closed during protest demonstrations in fear.

Police were in full stretch to avoid any damage to property. Some students of the Punjab Medical College blocked Sargodha Road near PMC Chowk.

Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2014