The Capital City Police on Friday closed the road leading to the Red Zone by placing containers as a part of security arrangement ahead of the Ahle-Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) protest against killings of their leaders and workers. The Capital City Police placed containers at Khayaban-e-Suharwardy in front of Serena Hotel and also closed other adjacent roads for traffic to block entry of ASWJ workers to Red Zone for which a number of sensitive buildings and embassies and commuters in the city face a lot of problems.
A number of ASWJ activists led by ASWJ Islamabad chief Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi marched from the Lal Masjid to Melody Chowk against the surge in target killing of their leaders and workers. They were holding placards and banners inscribed with different slogans "Arrest the killers of ASWJ workers", "Release innocent leaders of ASWJ and provide them security".
The protesters also chanted slogans against the government and law-enforcement agencies for surge in the target killings of ASWJ workers and leaders. Heavy contingent of police were deployed to avert any untoward incident. They demanded of the district administration to constitute an inquiry committee to investigate the target killing of their leaders and members, follow-up previously registered First Information Reports (FIRs) against party workers, as well hold an inquiry on the reports and "false" accusations shall be dismissed. The ASWJ also urged the government to ensure the release of their workers across Punjab.
However, later ASWJ activists call off their protest after negotiations with the senior officials of district administration and police. The district administration assured the ASWJ leader that they would make utmost efforts to address their grievances and the city police will form a Special Investigative Unit (SIU) headed Superintendent of Police Muhammad Ilyas to probe the killings of ASWJ workers.