Police baton-charged and fired teargas shells on Tuesday to disperse protest rallies by the Awami National Party (ANP) and the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), arresting several provincial leaders and activists of the ANP. The ANP demonstrators, protesting against the imposition of emergency rule in the country, clashed with police at Namak Mandi, Shuba Bazaar and Soekarno Chowk when police resorted to violence and arrested the ANP provincial leaders. The protesters hurled stones at the police and attacked them with sticks. However, the intense shelling forced the protesters to disperse.Arrested: The police rounded up ANP Provincial President Afrasiab Khattak, Vice President Khawaja Muhammad Khan Hoti and provincial leaders Hashim Khan Babar, Wisal Khan, Arbab Najeeb and dozens of party activists. The ANP rally was part of its programme to protest against the state of emergency. The ANP also plans to hold a rally and public meeting in the provincial capital on November 16.