A heavy contingent of police raided the parliamentarians’ lodgings Thursday evening to expel members of the Ansarul Islam – the volunteer force of the JUI-F, who were present there to provide security to opposition lawmakers.
Two dozen volunteers were arrested during the operation. A number of legislators also courted arrest in a protest against the police action.
In a statement late Thursday night, the Aabpara police said they have released all the arrested workers of the JUI-F. No lawmaker was arrested by the police, they said.
A police official said the workers were released on personal assurance after fulfillment of all legal requirements.
A spokesperson for the JUI-F confirmed that the detained volunteers and MNAs have been released.
According to reports, JUI-F lawmaker Maulana Salahuddin Ayyubi reached the lodges along with a few dozen volunteers. Some of them entered the lodges with him while others stayed outside the main gate.
TV footage showed the volunteers encamped outside the lodges.