A brief clash broke out between police and participants of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) sit-in in the Red Zone area of Islamabad early on Tuesday after five of the party's activists were detained by policemen.
Five PTI activists were heading from Islamabad's Nadra chowk towards the sit-in venue when they were detained by policemen deputed on the spot.
As soon as the news of the arrests reached the sit-in participants they were instructed by party leaders to move towards Radio Pakistan building to hold peaceful protests against the arrests.
Police personnel deputed on the spot tried to resist the advance of the protesters which resulted in a clash which lasted almost half an hour.
After the scuffle ended appeals were made from the loudspeakers of PTI chief Imran Khan's container for the release of the detained activists.
Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) President Raheeq Abbasi also asked the police from PAT chief Tahirul Qadri's container to release the arrested PTI workers to avoid any untoward incident. Police later released the detained PTI activists.
It was not clear who had given the call to change the site of protest. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur belonging to the PTI was the only party leader present at the venue who was trying to control the mob.
PTI supporters moved back to their original sit-in venue where they celebrated the release of their detained colleagues.
PTI and PAT have been holding anti-government protests over corruption and election rigging allegations in the federal capital of Islamabad since August 14, 2014. After several rounds of agitation, mediation and dialogues, a deadlock prevails on the PTI’s demand seeking resignation of elected Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
