March For Missing Persons: Relatives stopped midway

The police say they could not be allowed to proceed to the Constitution Avenue due to security concerns.

ISLAMABAD: The families of missing persons encamped at Parade Lane were stopped from marching to the Parliament House at the time of the president’s address on Saturday. Over a hundred men, women and children rallied towards parliament house to register their protest with the president, who was scheduled to address the joint session of the parliament. The Secretariat police and city administration stopped the rally at the first blockade on the Parade Lane. The police said they could not be allowed to proceed to the Constitution Avenue due to security concerns. After brief negotiations, the relatives decided to drop their plan and hold a small protest at the place where they were stopped.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 18^th, 2012.