Jamiat Ulema Islam chief Fazlur Rehman has announced a countrywide strike against police action at the parliament lodges on Thursday.

He made the announcement during a media talk as he reached the parliament lodges to court his arrest after lawmen manhandled lawmakers resisting their bid to take out the members of Ansarul Islam, a JUI wing.

Fazl gave a call to his party workers to reach the federal capital and said the opposition party was going on a wheel-jam strike.

The JUI wing was deployed at the parliament lodges to ensure the security of the parliamentarians during the no-confidence motion proceedings as Fazl said he had no confidence in the police which were under government control. He claimed that he had reports that MNAs would be abducted.

According to the government, 50 persons got in the parliament lodges on just 10 entry passes. Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed said the police action was taken after a five-hour dialogue. 

The federal capital police chief took notice of the entry of JUI wing persons and suspended the cops concerned.  Police took 30 minutes to clear the area of Ansarul Islam. 

They arrested 18 people and MNAs Salahuddin Ayubi and Jamaluddin are sitting in the room of SHO in Aabpara police station. Police allegedly barged into the lodges of Saad Rafiq, Salahuddin and Kamran Murtaza, and other MPs. 

PML-N leader Ayaz Sadiq seconded the JUI chief and called the police action unlawful. 

He was among the MPs who barred the cops from taking action.

The former National Assembly speaker demanded NA Speaker Asad Qaiser reach the spot as the action was illegal. 

A prison van was brought to the Parliament Lodges prior to the commencement of the police operation.

Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed said in a statement that police tried to resolve the matter through talks but they did not obey the orders.

After five hours, lawmen took the action. The PML-N leader said earlier that the interior minister was playing a gimmick as police action was unlawful. The minister claimed a terror threat was already issued. 

PML-N spokesperson stated Marriyum Aurangzeb took a swipe at the authorities and questioned why arms and weapons were not shown in clips.

She said action against unarmed volunteers of JUI shows the level of frustration of the government. She asked the PM to let the parliament take up the no-confidence motion if he had self-confidence.

Reports said Saad Rafique and some other lawmakers sustained injuries when police thrashed them.