ISLAMABAD: Hundreds of activists and leaders of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) on Monday evening blocked Islamabad Expressway against disappearance of their colleagues, including a leader.

More than 300 activists gathered at the expressway near Zia Masjid and blocked both the lanes.

As a result, motorists remained stuck on the busy artery.Police along with reserves and an anti-riot unit reached the spot and diverted the traffic to alternative routes.

Till the filing of this report, hundreds of vehicles were stuck on the expressway. The most affected parts at the expressway were Zero Point to Shakrial and Khanna Bridge to Loi Bher.

The demonstrators staged a sit-in on the highway to protest the disappearance of ASWJ senior leader Maulana Masoodur Rehman Usmani.

A police officer told Dawn that the protesters were peaceful and asking the police to trace their missing colleagues.

Published in Dawn, April 3rd, 2018