Protests by religious party in Lahore, Karachi and other cities continue

KARACHI: Police on Wednesday arrested 120 people, belonging to a religious organisation, for staging a protest, creating chaos in the city, and resorting to violence. 

According to a police spokesperson, 30 people were taken into custody from the city's South Zone, 60 from the East Zone, while 47 demonstrators were arrested from Karachi's West Zone.

LAHORE: The ongoing protest at Lahore's GT Road has come to an end and the crowd of demonstrators have dispersed, Lahore Motorway Police confirmed. 

Traffic also resumed on the road connecting Lahore's Thoker Niaz Baig Tehsil to Rahim Yar Khan, the Motorway Police added.

Inspector-General Punjab Inaam Ghani also visited Jinnah Hospital Lahore to review the situation and met with police officers and personnel who had been injured during the protests, a Lahore Police spokesperson said.

IG Punjab also provided monetary aid to the injured police personnel and instructed the hospital to ensure top-quality treatment. 

KARACHI: More than 60 protesters arrested from different areas of the metropolis were presented before a court on Wednesday.

The court handed over the accused to the police on physical remand till April 19.

The suspects were arrested from New Town, Orangi Town, Bilal Colony, and others areas of the city, said police.

The suspects have been charged with disturbing law and order situations and terrorism during the riots taking place in the city.

ISLAMABAD: All roads in the Federal Capital have been cleared for traffic, Deputy Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat said Wednesday.

“All roads in Islamabad including exits entries are clear for traffic,” the DC said in a Twitter message.

Police have cleared Rawalpindi's Liaquat Bagh area making it possible for traffic to resume in the area. 

KHANEWAL: Multan Road, one of the historic and longest roads connecting Lahore with Multan, has been opened for traffic.

The protest in that area has ended.

It was earlier blocked, with trailers parked on both sides of the road.

Railway stations have been closed in Narowal due to the ongoing protests by a religious party across the country.

The station master said that no train has been able to reach Sialkot for the last two days.

The Allama Iqbal train from Karachi to Sialkot returned to Lahore from Narowal due to disrupted train schedules.

Lathani Express also returned to Lahore from Narowal due to gate closure, the station master added.

He said both trains bound for Sialkot were diverted from Narowal today.

SARGODHA: At least 20 workers of a religious party were arrested for rioting amid protests that have spread all over the country in the past three days.

Police said that cases have been filed against 12 workers of the religious party for disturbing traffic flow and stone-pelting.

Meanwhile, police held a flag march in the city to maintain the law and order.

HYDERABAD: The workers of a religious party have blocked the roads near the city's Haider Chowk where they are holding a sit-in for the last three days.

According to Geo News, a heavy contingent of police is also present on the site to maintain the law and order situation in the area.