Activists of Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), led by SIC chief Fazal Karim, started 'Save Pakistan' long march towards Lahore via Murree Road, Rawalpindi, as administration failed to stop or divert the marchers towards Islamabad Expressway.
All blockades erected at Faizabad interchange to check the marchers from entering Rawalpindi, were removed by SIC activists, and three vehicles, parked to block the marchers, were destroyed by them. The participants of long march, on hundreds of vehicles including buses, trucks, cars, jeeps and on foot, crossed Rawalpindi and continued their march towards Lahore. They offered 'Asr' prayer at Rehmanabad and 'Maghrib' at Liaqat Bagh on Murree Road.
Talking to media, Fazal Karim urged the government to ensure early release of the detained SIC activists. "The government has launched a worst crackdown and arrested over 10,000 SIC workers," he said.
He said that the government had failed in chasing the terrorists to save Pakistan, but was taking the peaceful attitude of SIC for granted. In spite of blockades erected in the twin cities, imposition of section 144 and deployment of heavy contingents of Islamabad and Punjab police, a large number of SIC activists succeeded in reaching Barri Imam, and started the march. But the main procession taken out from Rawalpindi and other cities was stopped at Rawal Dam Chowk by district administration.
All exit and entry points of the capital, especially the roads leading to Barri Imam, were heavily guarded with baton-wielding police contingents armed with tear-gas shells and armoured personnel carrier (APC) to keep the marchers away from the shrine.
The district administration urged the marchers not to go to Barri Imam owing to the fear of terrorist and disruptive activities. "We would not allow the marchers to move towards Barri Imam, as it will cause huge rush, which is difficult to control and there are threats of terrorist activities", said Assistant Commissioner who was leading the district administration at Rawal Dam Chowk.
Poor planning to handle the mob and divert the march towards Expressway caused worst traffic jam in twin cities as all major roads including Islamabad Expressway, Murree Road and IJP Road were choked with miles-long lines of vehicles. The stranded people protested and criticised the administration of Federal Capital for poor planning, which caused huge traffic jams. The long march, started from Barri Imam, consisted of about 1000 vehicles. It moved from Barri Imam towards Lahore, which joined the main procession at Rawal Dam Chowk and then moved towards Rawalpindi.
Earlier, Islamabad and Punjab police had blocked all entry and exit points of the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi early in the morning to restrain the SIC from taking out long march from Barri Imam shrine to Data-Darbar Lahore.
Islamabad and Rawalpindi police held over hundred local leaders and activists of SIC during crackdown. Rawalpindi police accepted the arrest of some 50 people, while SIC spokesman claimed over 200 of their workers had been nabbed.
Fazal Karim said that terrorism has disfigured the identity of the nation across the globe and those pursuing people for suicide attacks are not loyal to Pakistan. Addressing the participants of the long march at Bari Imam shrine, he said that the government had not accepted the SIC demand for legislation to curb terrorism and calling All Parties Conference on the problems. He said that Sunni Ittehad would not allow abrogation of the blasphemy law. He also demanded release of the arrested activists of the group.
He vowed to hold long march despite the warnings by Punjab government, and urged the authorities to provide foolproof security arrangements. Punjab police resorted to baton-charge and hurled tear-gas shells on the participants of long march at Soan bridge, exit point of Rawalpindi, and injured over 50 activists.
The SIC activists were marching peacefully when they were stopped at Soan Bridge by Punjab police and were not allowed to move on. On resistance, police resorted to baton-charge and hurled huge quantity of tear gas shells. In retaliation, the SIC activists hurled stones on police personnel and damaged the vehicles.
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