Pakistan slaps cases against anti-government cleric, supporters

Pakistan police have registered cases against an anti-government religious leader and his 1300 supporters, media reported Tuesday.

Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT)'s leader Dr Tahirul Qadri and his supporters have been accused of damaging public property, attacking police, snatching their wireless sets, causing damage to an armoured personnel carrier and creating a law and order situation, Dawn online reported.

"Dr Qadri is among the accused because he had asked PAT workers to gather and protest against the government," a police official said.

Around 70 PAT workers have been arrested, police said, adding that more arrests would be made once the investigation was launched.

Pakistani authorities Monday denied permission to an Emirate Airlines flight that carried Qadri to land at Islamabad's Benazir Bhutto International Airport and the plane was diverted to Lahore instead.

Qadri planned to lead a protest march from Islamabad to Lahore by road.