Protestors Block Road To Airport

Violent protests over a proposal to increase public transportation fares continued in the Islamabad-Rawalpindi metropolitan area on 19 March 2010 despite the Pakistani government’s decision to rescind the fare hike. Many of the protesters are now demanding that the government release other protesters who were detained during a protest on 18 March. Protesters threw rocks at police officers, used burning tires to block roads in the Faizabad and Bara Kahu areas and blocked the main road to Benazir Bhutto International Airport (OPRN/ISB). A group of demonstrators also reportedly vandalized a vehicle transporting U.N. officials who had just arrived to investigate the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Police officers fired warning shots and tear gas in an attempt to control the crowd. At least nine people were injured in the disturbances.