ISLAMABAD, Sep 29 (APP): Effective security arrangements were taken to avert any untoward situation and maintain law and order in Islamabad, according to a press note issued on Saturday by the District Magistrate Islamabad Capital Territory.

According to the press note the election schedule notified by the Election Commission of Pakistan, the scrutiny of nomination papers was held on September 29 in the Election Commission, APDM and Lawyers had given a call to arrange protest demonstration and threatened to besiege the Election Commission.

They also announced to disrupt the scrutiny process. The threatening statements of lawyers and APDM leaders also appeared in electronic media and press, .

In order to avert any untoward situation and to maintain law and order, effective security arrangements were made in the jurisdiction of ICT especially on the Constitution Avenue. Section 144 Cr. P.C. was also imposed in the district for maintenance of public peace and order. The primary objective was to ensure smooth conduct of the scrutiny of the nomination papers by the Election Commission of the Presidential Candidature and to maintain peace and order. However, it is important to mention here that no major roads were blocked and particularly Constitution Avenue, Ataturk Avenue remained opened for general public and vehicular traffic.

In pursuance of the directions of the Minister for Interior and Secretary Interior, special meetings were also held with agents of the candidates and code of conduct was finalized in connection with the scrutiny process.

The proceedings commenced peacefully. However, at about 10.15 a.m. when the Chief Minister, Punjab cavalcade passed in front of the gate of Supreme Court a group of lawyers who had mostly come from various Bar Councils for adjoining districts present in vicinity of the gate of Supreme Court, attempted to stop the cavalcade and raised slogans.

The charged group forcibly tried to block the Constitution Avenue and rushed towards the Election Commission. The law enforcement agencies tried to stop them but despite persistent persuasion, the highly charged crowd was adamant to force their entry into the election commission office to disrupt the scrutiny process and ran-sack the election commission office.

As a result of this the scuffle occured between the lawyers, activists of political parties and law enforcement agencies. the Police had to resort to use tear gas shelling and mild lathi charge to disperse the crowd. Resultantly 64 persons sustained injuries including 13 police officials, 1 Additional Superintendent of Police, 2 MNAs namely Zamurd Khan, Farooq Sattar and Aitzaz Ahsan, 31 Journalists and 7 other citizens. The injured persons were immediately rushed to the Poly clinic and PIMS hospitals for treatment and after first aid, all these were discharged except 4.

Besides this the APDM activists also burnt tyres, blocked roads and traffic in Blue Area, Geo Chowk and Radio Paksitan Chowk.  It may be pertinent to highlighted that Mr. Tariq Azeem, Minister of State for Information was also manhandled by the charged crowd while Mr. Farooq Sattar MNA who had gone to Poly Clinic Hospital to facilitate the treatment of the Journalists was attacked by an angry group of lawyers and activists.

Resultantly he sustained injuries in the neck, ribs and other parts of the body. he is presently under treatment in the Hospital.

The Overall law and order situation in the district is normal and under control. High state of alert is being maintained. All key installations are under security cover and normalcy has been restored.

A high level inquiry is being ordered by the government to probe into the incident.