More than 200 Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) activists were arrested during the weekend as they clashed with the police during a protest against the publication of blasphemous caricatures in France.
Hundreds of protesters gathered on the call of TLP chief Allama Khadim Hussain Rizvi to denounce the remarks about Islam and terrorism by French President Emmanuel Macron.
Riot police resorted to teargas shelling against the stone-pelting protesters to prevent them from entering inti Islamabad. Dozens of police personnel and several TLP activists were injured and shifted to hospitals during the clash.
Protesters paralyzed traffic and businesses in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. To tackle the protest, the authorities selaed the city entry points with containers and shut down mobile phone services in Rawalpindi and some areas of Islamabad.
The disruption of phone services and little update about blocked traffic routes left the citizens helpless and angry.
As many as 16 entry points to Islamabad and 24 entry points to Rawalpindi city were also blocked with shipping containers.
Traffic update for Nov 16
Islamabad Expressway from Zero Point till Khanna Bridge will remain sealed on Monday, said DC Islamabad Hamza Shafqaat. “Everyone is requested to plz use alternate routes. Apologies for inconvenience.”
Islamabad Police shared the following traffic update for November 16:
Detailed traffic plan: