By Malik AsadISLAMABAD: During the last three days, the Islamabad police have arrested 315 activists of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) from within the jurisdictions of seven police stations of the federal capital.

According to a report compiled by the inspector general of Islamabad police, the arrested persons were `thoroughly interrogated` and criminal proceedings were initiated against them in `accordance with law`.

`The remaining accomplices/protestors...are still at large and strenuous efforts are underway to arrest them, the report reads.

PTI activists were apprehended from the jurisdictions of the police stations in Golra, Kohsar, Banigala, Shahzad Town, Koral, Bhara Kahu and Industrial Area, according to the report which the IGP submitted to the IHC during the hearing of a petition filed by PTI`s lawyers regarding the police`s crackdown against the workers.

The report also discussed in detailthe behaviour of the PTI during the sitin of 2014.

`In the year 2014, af ter the announcement of the protest, Section 144 was imposed by the district administration to avoid any eventuality. However, on August 14, 2014, PTI staged demonstration at Kashmir Highway and Pakistan Awami Tehreek arranged a jalsa at Suharwardi Road near Aabpara Chowk on the conditions that the organisers of both the parties will ensure no one from their respective parties will move towards the Red Zone at any cost...

Later on, both the parties under the patronage of their prime leaders, Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri, backed out of their legitimate promises...and announced to move their processions inside the Red Zone at D-Chowk,` the report reads.

It claimed that after being provoked by Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri, the protesters had stormed important government buildings. It stressed the need for confining protesters at a specific location and lists 10 justiñcations for doing so.

The report argued that if the protesters were to be allowed to demonstrate at D-Chowk and Red Zone, the residents of Islamabad cannot continue their businesses/commercial activities.

They face transport difficulties and sometimes cannot pick up their children from schools and colleges, educational institutions are closed down dueto the dharnas as are ofñces and shops in Blue Area.

The whole city will be affected due to such activities, foreign missions and officials of embassies cannot approach their ofñcesin case of obstructions.

It added that such activities are contrary to the `right of trade` and that the Capital Development Authority has speciñed alocationfor such activities The report concluded by saying that in order to ensure that the daily lives of the residents are not disturbed, the CDA has already specified Parade GroundnearShakarparianforcarrying out political demonstrations, sit-ins and delivering speeches and requests the courtto directthe PTItoconñneitsprotest to the designated place.

When asked, President of the Insaf Lawyers Forum Islamabad/Rawalpindi chapter, Niazullah Niazi said the PTI will contest the IHC`s orders for confiningthe protest to the Parade Ground.

He said the police had arrested unarmed PTI workers who wanted to exercise their fundamental right of assembly.

Mr Niazi said the district administration had allowed religious parties to hold public meetings at Aabpara despite the imposition of Section 144, claiming that the PML-N was treating the PTI differently.

He said an application for quashing the FIRs against PTI workers would also be moved.