LAHORE/KARACHI Protest rallies of Hizbut Tahrir were thrashed in several cities of the country on Sunday. In Lahore, police resorted to baton charge and arrested about a couple of dozen Hizbut Tahrir activists near Qartaba Chowk when they were marching towards the Punjab Assembly to protest against US interference in the Pakistani affairs. The police intercepted HT rally at Qartaba Chowk shortly after it emerged from Shama Chowk. For dispersing the protesters demanding expelling US and its agent rulers and replacing the existing system with Khilafa, the police resorted to baton charge, injuring a large number of the participants. The protesters strongly reacted and injured over half a dozen policemen including SHO Lytton Road Police Station. Around 100 activists took part in the rally and raised slogans against the rulers while holding banners and placards inscribed with the demands of ending US slavery and implementing Khilafa. The activists dodged police by beginning the march from the LOS Chowk instead of Qartaba Chowk. The policemen resorted to heavy baton charge on the protesters and bundled them in the police van. Most of the HT members managed to run away while some of them resisted their arrest by wrangling with policemen but they were soon overpowered by over 200 policemen. In Karachi, police detained six activists of Hizbut Tahrir when scores of them reached Regal Chowk to protest against America and the government of Pakistan. Large number of HT protesters gathered at Empress Market and walked towards Regal Chowk where police intercepted them and used teargas and water cannons. The skirmishes between the protesters and law enforcers remained continued for hours while police picked up six activists and took them to the police station. SHO Preedy Shokat Raza, when contacted, confirmed the arrests and registration of cases. The Hizb activists also thrashed during a protest rally in Peshawar.