It was revealed on Monday that the Islamabad police had arrested demonstrators and the rally's organizers in favor of the Palestinians in Gaza.
The Save Gaza Campaign, a group of citizens and organizations resisting the Israeli bombardment of the besieged strip, announced earlier today on social media that the police had filed a first information report (FIR) against its leader, Humaira Tayyaba, and her husband, former Jamaat-i-Islami senator Mushtaq Ahmad, who also serves as the movement's patron. This was in response to Tayyaba's Sunday sit-in at D-Chowk.
On Sunday, Station House Officer Shafqat Faiz filed a report, and the Kohsar police station in the capital recorded a formal complaint. Sections 148 (rioting with a deadly weapon), 149 (unlawful assembly), 186 (obstructing a public servant in the performance of their duties), 188 (disobedience to an order duly issued by a public servant), 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from performing his duty), 506(ii) (criminal intimidation), and mischief causing damage amounting to Rs. 50) of the Pakistan Penal Code and the Amplifier Act were the subjects of the complaint.
According to the police report, the SHO and other law enforcement officers were on guard duty at Jinnah Avenue in Islamabad when, at approximately 2:00 pm, demonstrators headed by Ahmad and Tayyaba gathered and started blasting catchphrases through pickup truck speakers. It further stated that speeches criticizing governmental institutions were also made.
The SHO reported that a city magistrate who was present with the police force warned the demonstrators that every rally was restricted due to Section 144, that the demonstrators lacked a no-objection certificate, that it was illegal to obstruct national arteries without permission, and that as a result, they could move to the green belt without interfering with the daily commutes of regular citizens.
The protestors were offered the opportunity to hold their demonstration at the press club or another location, the FIR stated, but the organizers insisted on holding it at D-Chowk.
According to the FIR, Ahmad said at around 5:30 p.m. that the demonstrators would come to D-Chowk and encircle diplomatic missions and significant offices at any cost. The former senator allegedly incited the mob and threatened to use violence if there was any pushback, according to the FIR.
It went on to say that the group of about 300–350 people would not listen when they were told again and again that they were breaking Section 144 and started walking towards D-Chowk, some of them with sticks in hand.
