Police said they arrested 150 activists on Wednesday as they tried to rally in support of the tough blasphemy law on the anniversary of a ex-Punjab governor's assassination over his call to reform the statute. Security was tight in Lahore throughout the day. Police barricaded many parts of Lahore to prevent demonstrators from gathering, causing massive traffic jams.

Lahore Deputy Inspector General of Police Haider Ashraf said the arrested activists belonged to Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah, who were planning to attack people staging a vigil to commemorate the anniversary of the governor's killing. Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah could not be reached for comment. "When police received reports that the Labaik Ya Rasool Allah Movement planned to attack the gathering, we reacted pre-emptively and cordoned off the area," Ashraf told Reuters.

"The activists threw stones at police, who retaliated with baton charge and arrested 150 members." Ashraf said those arrested were booked for disrupting law and order and assaulting police. The head of the Labaik group, Maulana Khadim Hussain Rizvi, was also among those detained.

Copyright Reuters, 2017