Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) chief Khadim Hussain Rizvi was taken into "protective custody" by police from Lahore as law enforcement agencies launched a massive crackdown against workers of TLP and Tehreek-i-Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLYRA) on Friday night.

"Khadim Hussain Rizvi has been taken into protective custody by police and shifted to a guest house," said Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry late Friday night, confirming reports of the incendiary leader's arrest via Twitter. High/red alert had been generated to heighten the security in the provincial capital.

The crackdown came ahead of Rizvi's call to party members to observe martyrs’ day on November 25 (Sunday). He had asked workers and supporters to gather at Faizabad in the federal capital — the same venue where the party had staged a weeks-long sit-in last year that had virtually paralysed the federal capital and led to several people losing their lives.

Law enforcement personnel on Friday night also took in custody TLYRA head Dr Asif Ashraf Jalali.

Furthermore, according to security sources, TLP patron Pir Afzal Qadri was also arrested the same night from Gujrat.

Soon after the news of the arrest of the clerics spread, hundreds of activists of the two parties took to the streets and blocked many roads for traffic.

A constable was seriously injured at Multan Road where the violent activists clashed with police.

Following the unrest and severe clashes, Rangers reached Lahore, taking control of city’s major roads. Prior to the agitation, a police officer said, hundreds of trained police commandos and personnel of the anti-riot force were dispatched to the Multan Road after the information that violent activists of the TLP had held a senior police officer — Iqbal Town SP Syed Ali — hostage along with his guards.

Mass arrests

The district authorities in Rawalpindi issued detainment orders for TLP divisional leader Inayatul Haq. According to the notification, Haq will be detained in a jail for 15 days.

According to a correspondent in Sialkot, police arrested Sufi Mohammad Rafiq, district emir of the TLP, and four main activists of the party, identified as Saleem Shahid, Mehbub Hassan, Nasir Dogar and Syed Kaleemul Hassan Shah.

On Saturday, security officials said that since last night, at least 30 of the party's workers have been arrested from various parts of the capital.

Around 100 police personnel have been deployed at Faizabad interchange.

According to police sources, 143 TLP workers have so far been arrested from Rawalpindi, 18 from Attock, 55 from Jhelum and five from Chakwal, taking the total arrests from the four cities to 221.

More than a hundred arrests were also made in Karachi, according to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) East Azfar Mahesar, who visited Numaish Chowrangi to brief police officials.

According to a senior police official, “a total of 154 TLP workers were apprehended from different areas of the city”.

Among them, 53 were arrested from district East, 34 from Korangi, 31 from Malir, 17 from Central and 19 from district West. At least 27 other workers were detained by Pakistan Rangers Sindh who were later on handed over to the police for further legal action.

'Nothing to do with Aasia Bibi protest'

"The action was prompted by TLP's refusal to withdraw its call for protest on November 25. It’s to safeguard public life, property and order," Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry shared on Twitter on Friday night.

The arrest "has to do nothing with Asia Bibi case", Chaudhry said, adding the TLP had insisted on coming to Rawalpindi "refusing [the government's] proposal for alternative arrangements".

"The TLP has become a continuous threat to the life and properties of the citizens and is doing politics under the guise of religion ... the situation is fully under control, people should remain peaceful and fully cooperate with authorities," he said in a tweet in Urdu.

The minister said the government "did it[s] best" to convince the party against convening for the protest, "but they refused every offer and started to provoke violence".

"State is responsible to defend finality and respect of Holy Prophet PBUH. Law shall take its course and it cannot be left to individuals," Chaudhry concluded.

Reports of arrest

Prior to Chaudhry's tweets, a family member of Rizvi had confirmed to DawnNewsTV that the TLP chief had been taken into custody. “He was arrested from his hujra in Lahore,” a family member of Rizvi told Samaa TV.

Rizvi's son, Saad, while talking to 7 News said along with his father, all district leaders of TLP had been arrested.

The Punjab information and law ministers, however, had said they did not know about any such action being taken against Rizvi.

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TLP leader Pir Afzal Qadri in a video message had corroborated that police "was raiding [their] mosques in order to arrest leaders".

Aasia Bibi protests

The reports of the arrests come weeks after the TLP led three-day protests across the country against the acquittal of Aasia Bibi, a Christian woman whose blasphemy conviction was overturned by the Supreme Court at the end of last month.

The demonstrators during the protests had termed the chief justice “liable to be killed” and had called for a rebellion against the army chief “because he is a non-Muslim”.

This had led to Prime Minister Imran Khan issuing a stern warning to the agitators and telling them: "Do not clash with the state".

“Do not take us [to a situation] where we are compelled to take [strict] action,” the prime minister had said in a televised speech.

Two days later, however, the TLP had agreed to end the nationwide protest sit-ins after reaching an agreement with the federal and Punjab governments under which the latter agreed to initiate the legal process to put Aasia Bibi's name on the Exit Control List (ECL) and refrain from objecting to review of the court judgement.

The TLP, in turn, had only offered an apology "if it hurt the sentiments of or inconvenienced anyone without reason".

One year to Faizabad

In November 2017, TLP workers demanding the resignation of then law minister Zahid Hamid had staged a weeks-long sit-in at the Faizabad interchange that had virtually paralysed the federal capital and led to several people losing their lives.

On November 21 of the same month, the apex court had taken notice of the sit-in and directed the defence and interior secretaries to submit a detailed report on the matter.

Days later, the then PML-N government had launched against the protesters an operation which, when failed, had forced the authorities to cave and Hamid to resign.

The Supreme Court on Thursday had reserved its verdict on the suo motu case over the Faizabad sit-in. The reserved verdict pertains to a variety of issues stemming from TLP's infamous sit-in, including its party registration as well as its violent protest.</s>–Hardline preacher taken into ‘protective custody’ during Lahore raid

–Nationwide crackdown against Labbaik underway as LEAs round up over 537 workers

–State acted after TLP’s refusal to postpone its Nov 25 protest, says interior ministry

LAHORE: Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) chief Khadim Hussain Rizvi has been arrested after the government ordered law enforcement agencies to begin a countrywide crackdown on the far-right religious outfit, the Ministry of Interior confirmed late on Friday night.

Rizvi’s family later confirmed to media that the police had taken him into custody. His son Saad added that the TLP district leaders accompanying his father were also arrested from his hujra.

According to details, Rizvi was arrested in a joint operation by the city police, Elite Force and Dolphin Force at the Yateem Khana Rehmatallil Alameen Mosque after an approval by the federal cabinet. SPs of Iqbal Town and Saddar areas commanded the operation.

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The law enforcement teams initially took Rizvi and other TLP others to Nawankot police station and then transferred them to an undisclosed location, sources said, adding that the firebrand cleric had threatened to call a nationwide protest against his arrest.

During the operation, stones were pelted at the police team by Rizvi’s followers, who also assaulted the officials. Sources said Punjab Rangers have also been called in to control the law and order situation of the province.

A similar crackdown took place in Ferozwala in the DSP torture case where the TLP allegedly broke section-144, according to the FIR.

TLP spokesperson Pir Ejaz Ashrafi said they have received reports of arrests of a number of party workers from various parts of the country. The operation against TLP — aimed at foiling its public rally-cum-protest scheduled for November 25 — is underway in all major cities, including Lahore and Rawalpindi, sources said.

The TLP had planned a public rally at Rawalpindi’s Liaquat Bagh to ‘honour’ its martyrs on November 25. In November last year, the TLP had paralysed the country’s capital for nearly four weeks when it staged a sit-in at Faizabad Interchange against the alleged changes in the oath of lawmakers. The protests ended when the previous PML-N government signed an agreement with the TLP leadership and decided that November 25 will be observed as ‘Martyrs Day’.

When contacted, the Ministry of Interior said the action was taken after the TLP leadership ignored repeated requests made by the government and local administration to postpone the Nov 25 rally in view of the recent surge in the acts of terrorism across the country. “Not only did they refuse blatantly, but also resorted to their typical coercive techniques of causing damage to life and property,” it added.

The planned protest of TLP at Faizabad and the resulting action by the state to take them into protective custody have nothing to do with the Aasia Bibi case, the ministry clarified.

Inside sources say the law enforcement agencies have arrested as many as 537 TLP workers till the filing of this report, including placing Pir Afzal Qadri under house arrest. They added that the LEAs plan to round up about 2,000 members of the religious party.

Although Punjab information and law ministers have expressed ignorance of the fact, sources confirmed that a full-scale operation is underway across the country.

Moreover, media reports say around 100 police personnel have been deployed at Faizabad interchange where the TLP had last year staged a 20-day long sit-in.

Later on, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said on Twitter that Rizvi has been shifted to a ‘guest house’. “They insisted to come to Rawalpindi refusing government’s proposal for alternative arrangements,” he tweeted

Khadim Hussain Rizvi has been taken into protective custody by police and shifted to a guest house.They insisted to come to Rwp refusing Governments proposal for alternative arrangements

It’s to safeguard public life, property and order and has to do nothing with Asia Bibi case — Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) November 23, 2018

Govt did it best to convince them but they refused every offer and started to provoke violence. Public is requested to stay peaceful n calm State is responsible to defend finality and respect of Holy Prophet PBUH. Law shall take its course and it cannot be left to individuals. — Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) November 23, 2018

Fawad requested the people to stay peaceful as “law shall take its course and it cannot be left to individuals.”

LABBAIK:

The religious party, founded in 2015, burst onto the scene after the government carried out Mumtaz Qadri’s death sentence in 2016.

In November 2017, TLP followers blocked Islamabad’s main road protesting against the PML-N-led government’s alleged attempt to amend the “finality of Prophethood” constitutional clause.

Agitators clashed with LEAs forcing the army to step in to curb the violence.

After the Faizabad sit-in, the TLP staged a three-day long protest following the acquittal of Aasia Bibi by the Supreme Court. During the protest, the demonstrators termed the chief justice “liable to be killed” and called for a rebellion against the army chief “because he is a non-Muslim”. The protest defused after the PTI government and TLP brokered a deal.

This makes it twice the federation capitulating to Rizvi’s demands, giving him prominence in the religious sphere.

Subsequently, the top court had to take a suo motu of the protests and directed the federal and provincial governments to submit a report in this regard.

Moreover, the TLP also managed to translate its religious rhetoric into votes as it bagged at least 4 per cent of the total votes in the last general elections. The party’s count was only 300,000 votes less than its heavyweight rival Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), an old five-party alliance.

With additional input from Shahab Omer</s>Pakistan authorities launched a crackdown on Saturday against hundreds of supporters of a hardline cleric whose party recently paralysed the country with violent protests over the acquittal of a Christian woman accused of blasphemy.

Hours after firebrand cleric Khadim Hussain Rizvi was himself arrested late on Friday, police said over 300 Tehreek-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) party supporters were detained in Punjab province in efforts to “maintain public order”.

The arrests came ahead of a scheduled party rally on Sunday in Islamabad, but Punjab information minister Fayyaz ul Hassan Chohan said TLP supporters would be banned from gathering in the neighbouring province.

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“We are detaining supporters of TLP across the province to avoid any backlash after the arrest of their leaders,” said Chohan.

“Police has been deployed in all major cities of the province to deal with any untoward incident. There is a complete ban on all type of political gatherings in the province.”

The country’s information minister Fawad Chaudhry said the detention of Rizvi “has to do nothing with (the) Asia Bibi case,” referring to a Christian woman who was on death row for eight years before the Supreme Court overturned her blasphemy conviction last month.

The court’s decision sparked furious demonstrations led by the hardline TLP, with protesters calling for Bibi’s execution as they blocked major roads, leaving large swathes of the country paralysed.

In response, the government made a deal with the Islamists to impose a travel ban on Bibi, who was released from jail earlier this month as she awaits the outcome of a final review of her case.

The TLP has vowed to return to the streets if she is allowed to leave the country.

Early on Saturday clashes took place in the southern city of Karachi between Pakistani paramilitary forces and protesters over the arrest of Rizvi.

“Khadim Hussain Rizvi has been taken into protective custody by police and shifted to a guest house,” tweeted Chaudhry.

“It’s to safeguard public life, property and order … Law shall take its course and it cannot be left to individuals,” he added.

A notification issued by the Punjab government said the cleric will be detained for 30 days. The notification said there was “credible” information that the cleric would create a law and order situation.

In a video message released on Friday, another TLP leader Pir Afzal Qadri called for fresh protests, saying police had arrested dozens of party workers in the port city of Karachi as well as Lahore.

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Blasphemy is a massively inflammatory issue in Muslim-majority Pakistan, where even unproven allegations of insulting Islam and Prophet Mohammed can lead to lynchings and murders.

Bibi’s conviction stemmed from a 2009 incident when she was asked to fetch water while out working in the fields.

Muslim women labourers objected to her touching the water bowl as a non-Muslim, and a fight reportedly erupted.

Bibi has consistently denied the charges, and her prosecution rallied international rights groups, politicians and religious figures.</s>The Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan's (TLP) Chief along with over 100 memebers of the Islamist party have been arrested by the Pakistan police after they had given a protest call for Sunday against the acquittal of Christian woman Asia Bibi.

Last month, Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) disrupted daily life across Pakistan by staging widespread protests following Bibi's acquittal in a blasphemy case by the apex court.

"We have taken into custody more than 100 TLP leaders and activists including its chief Khadim Hussain Rizvi from Lahore and other parts of the Punjab province," a senior police officer told PTI on Saturday.

He said a team comprising government officials and clerics tried to persuade Rizvi in Lahore late on Friday night to defer its November 25 protest, but he refused to budge.

"On this police arrested him and other leaders," the officer said.

"Khadim Hussain Rizvi has been taken into protective custody by police from Lahore. The action was prompted by TLP's refusal to withdraw its call for protest on November 25. It is to safeguard public life, property and order," Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry tweeted.

The minister, however, clarified that the "arrest has nothing to do with Asia Bibi case".

"The TLP has become a continuous threat to the life and properties of the citizens and is doing politics under the guise of religion... the situation is fully under control, people should remain peaceful and fully cooperate with authorities," Chaudhry said.

He said the government did its best to convince the party against staging the protest, but they refused every offer and started to incite violence.

There were reports of TLP workers clashing with police in Lahore following Rizvi's arrest. Three policemen and seven workers are reported to have been injured.

The apex court, in a three-member bench led by chief justice Saqib Nisar, issued the landmark verdict last month.

Following the verdict, the TLP had termed the chief justice and other judges in the bench "liable to be killed" and had called Army chief General Qmar Javed Bajwa a non-Muslim and urged Muslim generals to revolt against him.

Bibi was convicted in 2010 after being accused of insulting Islam in a row with her neighbours. She always maintained her innocence, but spent most of the past eight years in solitary confinement.

She has been released from the jail and the government says is in a 'safe' house. The government says she cannot leave the country till decision on the review petition against her acquittal. Chief Justice Nisar has ordered full protection to Bibi.

TLP is an Islamist political party with Islamic ideology. It is known for widespread street power and massive protests in opposition to any change to Pakistan's blasphemy law.</s>Detaining of Khadim Hussain Rizvi, leader of Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan was not linked to Asia Bibi case, minister Fawad Chaudhry said.

Firebrand cleric Khadim Hussain Rizvi, who is the leader of the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan party, was detained ahead of a scheduled rally on Saturday in Islamabad. (Photo:

Islamabad: Pakistani police late Friday detained a hardline cleric whose party recently paralysed the country with violent protests over the acquittal of a Christian woman accused of blasphemy.

Firebrand cleric Khadim Hussain Rizvi, who is the leader of the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) party, was detained ahead of a scheduled rally on Saturday in Islamabad, the country's information minister Fawad Chaudhry tweeted.

"Khadim Hussain Rizvi has been taken into protective custody by police and shifted to a guest house," Chaudhry tweeted, adding that the move was not linked to the case of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman who was on death row for eight years before the Supreme Court overturned her blasphemy conviction last month.

"It's to safeguard public life, property and order and has to do nothing with (the) Asia Bibi case," Chaudhry tweeted.

"Law shall take its course and it cannot be left to individuals," he added.

The court's decision sparked furious demonstrations led by the hardline TLP, with protesters calling for Bibi's execution as they blocked major roads, leaving large swathes of the country paralysed.

In response, the government made a deal with the Islamists to impose a travel ban on Bibi, who was released from jail earlier this month as she awaits the outcome of a final review of her case.

The TLP has vowed to return to the streets if she is allowed to leave the country.

In a video message released on Friday, another TLP leader Pir Afzal Qadri called for fresh protests, saying police had arrested dozens of party workers in the port city of Karachi and in parts of central Punjab province including Lahore.

Blasphemy is a massively inflammatory issue in Muslim-majority Pakistan, where even unproven allegations of insulting Islam and Prophet Mohammed can lead to lynchings and murders.

Bibi's conviction stemmed from a 2009 incident when she was asked to fetch water while out working in the fields.

Muslim women labourers objected to her touching the water bowl as a non-Muslim, and a fight reportedly erupted.

Bibi has consistently denied the charges, and her prosecution rallied international rights groups, politicians and religious figures.</s>LAHORE: Khadim Hussain Rizvi, the chief of the politico-religious Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) party, was taken into custody from his residence in Lahore on Friday evening.

The arrest comes two days before TLP's plans to hold a rally in Rawalpindi's Liaquat Bagh on November 25.

According to Geo, law enforcers carried out an operation on Multan Road in Lahore and arrested at least 50 members of the TLP, including the party chief.

The group had held three days of protests after the acquittal of Asia Bibi by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

The protests left the country paralyzed for three days prompting the government to sign a controversial agreement.</s>Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan leader detained by police after group calls for fresh protests over acquittal of Aasia Bibi

Police late on Friday detained a hardline cleric whose party recently paralyzed the country with violent protests over the acquittal of a Christian woman accused of blasphemy.

Firebrand cleric Khadim Hussain Rizvi, who is the leader of the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan party, was detained ahead of a scheduled rally on Saturday in Islamabad, the country’s information minister Fawad Chaudhry tweeted.

“Khadim Hussain Rizvi has been taken into protective custody by police and shifted to a guest house,” Chaudhry tweeted, adding that the move was not linked to the case of Aasia Bibi, a Christian woman who was on death row for eight years before the Supreme Court overturned her blasphemy conviction last month. “It’s to safeguard public life, property and order and has to do nothing with [the] Aasia Bibi case,” Chaudhry tweeted. “Law shall take its course and it cannot be left to individuals,” he added.

The court’s decision sparked furious demonstrations led by the hardline Labaik, with protesters calling for Bibi’s execution as they blocked major roads, leaving large swathes of the country paralyzed. In response, the government made a deal with the Islamists to impose a travel ban on Bibi, who was released from jail earlier this month as she awaits the outcome of a final review of her case.

Labaik has vowed to return to the streets if she is allowed to leave the country.

In a video message released on Friday, another Labaik leader Pir Afzal Qadri called for fresh protests, saying police had arrested dozens of party workers in Karachi and in parts of central Punjab province, including Lahore.

Blasphemy is a massively inflammatory issue in Muslim-majority Pakistan, where even unproven allegations of insulting Islam can lead to lynchings and murders.

Bibi’s conviction stemmed from a 2009 incident when she was asked to fetch water while out working in the fields. Muslim women laborers objected to her touching the water bowl as a non-Muslim, and a fight reportedly erupted. A local imam then claimed Bibi insulted Islam’s Prophet.

Bibi has consistently denied the charges, and her prosecution rallied international rights groups, politicians and religious figures.</s>YOU MAY HAVE heard the name Asia Bibi in recent weeks.

The Catholic woman spent eight years on death row in Pakistan for blasphemy before being acquitted last month.

Since her release from a prison in central Multan, she and her family have been in hiding amid death threats and calls for her execution from extremists.

Here’s a recap of her story and what may happen next.

Bibi’s arrest stems from a 2009 incident in which she fetched water for herself and fellow farm workers. An argument took place after two Muslim women refused to drink from the same container as Bibi because of her religion.

A fight erupted and a local imam claimed Bibi insulted the Prophet Mohammed – a charge she denies.

Bibi, who is a mother-of-five and now aged 54, was convicted and sentenced to death in 2010. Since then activists from Pakistan and all over the world have been campaigning for her release.

People demonstrating in Rome on 13 November in solidarity with Asia Bibi. Source: NurPhoto/SIPA USA/PA Images

Almost everyone living in Pakistan – about 96% – are registered as Muslim. About 1.5% of people are listed as Christian.

Bibi’s case highlighted divisions between traditionalists and modernists in the country, and her Supreme Court acquittal on 21 October sparked violent protests.

Blasphemy is a massively inflammatory issue in Pakistan, where even unproven allegations of insulting Islam and Prophet Mohammed have led to lynchings and murders.

During the week, Bibi’s lawyer said she and her family want to leave Pakistan for any Western country willing to issue them visas.

“I hope the Western world is trying to help her,” Saiful Malook said. He added that talks are taking place with several countries, as well as the European Union, but he didn’t give any further details.

Several countries have offered Bibi asylum, including Canada, Spain and France. Indeed, Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan said Ireland “would like to help” her.

Speaking last weekend, Flanagan said: “Should an application be received, I would be confident that it would receive favourable consideration.

Malook left Pakistan after the Supreme Court’s acquittal, fearing for his own safety. He said he’s also looking for somewhere to move to, adding that Germany would be one of his preferences because his late wife was from there.

In recent weeks Pakistan’s Tehreek-e-Labbaik (TLP) party launched nationwide protests demanding Bibi’s public execution and the party’s founder, Mohammad Afzal Qadri, called for the death of the three Supreme Court judges who ruled to acquit her.

Protesters demonstrating against Bibi's acquittal in Lahore on 31 October. Source: Rana Sajid Hussain/Zuma Press/PA Images

Qadri has also called for the overthrow of the Pakistani government. Protests ended after the government agreed to a Supreme Court review.

However, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan has gone on national television saying that the Supreme Court’s decision will be final and upheld. Malook also said the chances of the acquittal being overturned are slim.

TLP’s leader, Khadim Hussain Rizvi, and several supporters were arrested by police in Lahore yesterday. The party has called for more protests to take place tomorrow.

Rumours are rife in Pakistan that Bibi has already left the country, with fake reports claiming she met with Pope Francis in the Vatican – a claim debunked by AFP.

The government has repeatedly stated that Bibi is being held in a secure location in Pakistan, though her exact whereabouts are unknown.

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi reiterated this position in Islamabad on Wednesday, saying: “We have clarified earlier and we clarify it again. She has not gone abroad. She is here. There is no controversy.”

Bibi is not allowed to leave the country until the final review into her case is complete. Until then, eyes from all over the world will remain fixed on Pakistan.

Contains reporting from Associated Press and © AFP 2018</s>LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) - The party of a radical Islamic cleric who disrupted daily life with rallies across Pakistan following the acquittal of a Christian woman in a blasphemy case says he has been arrested by police in the city of Lahore.

In a statement, the Tehreek-e-Labbaik party said their leader, Khadim Hussain Rizvi, was arrested Friday.

It also said police arrested scores of its supporters.

The arrests came weeks after Rizvi's supporters held violent rallies against the Oct. 31 acquittal of Asia Bibi by the Supreme Court.

Bibi had been on death row since 2010 on charges of insulting Islam's Prophet Muhammad.

It angered Rizvi and his supporters who rallied for three days.

FILE - In this Nov. 24, 2017 file photo, the head of the Pakistani Tehreek-e-Labbaik radical religious party, Khadim Hussain Rizvi prays during a sit-in protest in Islamabad, Pakistan. The party of a radical Islamic cleric who disrupted daily life with rallies across Pakistan following the acquittal of a Christian woman in a blasphemy case says he has been arrested Friday, Nov. 23, 2018 by police in the city of Lahore. (AP Photo/B.K. Bangash, file)

Rizvi ended the protest after authorities said Bibi would not leave Pakistan until a petition against her acquittal was reviewed.</s>Pakistan authorities launched a crackdown yesterday against hundreds of supporters of a hardline cleric whose party recently paralysed the country with violent protests over the acquittal of a Christian woman accused of blasphemy.

Hours after firebrand cleric Khadim Hussain Rizvi was himself arrested late Friday, police said over 300 Tehreek-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) party supporters were detained in Punjab province in efforts to "maintain public order".

The arrests came ahead of a scheduled party rally today in Islamabad.

"Police has been deployed in all major cities of the province to deal with any untoward incident. There is a complete ban on all type of political gatherings in the province."

The country's information minister Fawad Chaudhry said the detention of Rizvi "has to do nothing with (the) Asia Bibi case," referring to a Christian woman who was on death row for eight years before the Supreme Court overturned her blasphemy conviction last month.

The court's decision sparked furious demonstrations led by the hardline TLP, with protesters calling for Bibi's execution as they blocked major roads, leaving large swathes of the country paralysed.

In response, the government made a deal with the Islamists to impose a travel ban on Bibi, who was released from jail earlier this month as she awaits the outcome of a final review of her case.

The TLP has vowed to return to the streets if she is allowed to leave the country.
Khadim Hussain Rizvi, chief of Pakistani political party Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), together with his party leaders, is arrested after TLP's refusal to postpone their call for a public rally planned for 25 November at Liaqat Bagh, Rawalpindi. Pakistan's Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry clarifies that the action has no connection with the Asia Bibi case.