KARACHI, Oct 2: Protestors mainly comprising activists of the Sunni Tehrik fought pitched battles with police on Sunday in their attempt to stage a rally to condemn the death sent-ence awarded to Mumtaz Qadri by an anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi on Saturday in Punjab gove-rnor Salman Taseer’s murder case.

The police acted to stop the protesters from taking out a rally as Section 144 (power to issue order absolute at once in urgent cases of nuisance or apprehended danger) of the Criminal Procedure Code had been imposed in the city under which rallies and public gatherings had been banned.

Water tankers and mini buses were parked by the police on the roads leading to the Numaish Chowrangi and M.A. Jinnah Road to block the roads and stop the protestors from joining the rally.

However, when the pro-testors managed to conv-erge on the Numaish Chowrangi, the police resorted to baton charge and fired tear-gas shells to disperse them.

The police also fired shots into the air as the protestors were undeterred by the tear-gas shells.

Finally, a water cannon was used to disperse the protestors who were pelting the police with stones.

Several protestors were also picked up for violating section 144.

Later, talks were held between police authorities and Sunni Tehrik leaders who were demanding immediate release of the detained protestors.

However, on the authorities’ assurances that the detained protestors would be released, the demonstrators disperse.

However, till the filing of this report, negotiations were being held for the release of detained protestors.