Police on Friday fired water canon and resorted to baton charge to gain control over a protest of the Pakistan Kissan Ittehad (PKI) held at Islamabad's D-Chowk.Police also deployed tear-gas shelling to disperse the protesters who had gathered in the capital's D Chowk area demanding subsidies on fertilisers and electricity bills.
The protesters chanted slogans agaisnt Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and threatened to seal Islamabad if their demands are not met.
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khurshid Shah arrived at the site of the protest shortly after it started.
"Today, the budget is being presented and the farmers are out on the streets protesting," Shah said.
Services of the city's metrobus were temporarily suspended as the protest continued. Offices and shops in the surrounding were closed, as well.
The police were able to push the protesters towards China Chowk and Poli Clinic.
The farmers had demanded to meet Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to present their demands within the first hour of the protest but the demand was not met.
