The political atmosphere in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi turned tense with the PTI calling for countrywide protests on Friday after police stormed a youth convention of the party and arrested activists in the federal capital late on Thursday.
The AML convention on Friday was scheduled as a warm up exercise ahead of the November 2 showdown by the PTI. Awami Muslim League(AML), Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) of Tahirul Qadri, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) have announced to join the November 2 'lockdown'.
Since last night, all the five ways leading to Shaikh Rashid's residence remained sealed. Police and opposition activists came face to face at Rawalpindi's Committee Chowk near the Lal Haveli residence of Sheikh Rasheed.
A scuffle also broke out between PTI workers and police near Imran Khan's residence. Although Imran Khan had earlier decided to address supporters at an AML-organised meeting at Lal Haveli, he later cancelled that plan.