An armed man demanding implementation of Islamic law in Pakistan was arrested late on Thursday after a standoff with police that lasted for several hours in a high security zone in Islamabad, police said. Muhammad Sikandar, who was in a car along with driver, his wife and two children, tried to enter the area where important government buildings including parliament, presidency and prime minister houses are located, Xinhua reported.
Police personnel at a check post stopped him, but he tried to run away in the car. Later, when a police vehicle intercepted him, he opened fire. Police cordoned off the area and an officer tried to negotiate with him and his wife.
Sikandar, 51, sent a list of written demands to police, which included implementation of Islamic law in the country, resignation of the current government and giving safe passage to him and his family. Finally, police arrested him after injuring him with two shots at his legs.
Both Sikandar and his wife were injured and are now in police custody in a hospital. The children are safe, Superintendent of Police Rizwan said. Hospital sources said that at least two police personnel were also brought to the hospital with minor bullet injuries.
The armed man, who came from Hafizabad district of Punjab province, had been working in Dubai for 25 years. He checked in a hotel located nearby the red zone two days ago, police said. The driver of the car said Sikandar hired his vehicle from the hotel, bought water bottles and other edibles before heading towards parliament. The real motive behind the incident is yet to be determined.
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