Dawn.com’s Musadiq Sanwal reports live from Islamabad as the second lawyers’ Long March picks up momentum, meanwhile Muhammad Badar Alam, Bureau Chief of Herald gives us the latest updates from Lahore. While lawyers and political activists of the PML-N march on, they will have updates from the protests, the word on the street, and stories from the sidelines. Return to The Dawn Blog for live updates, feature stories, and multimedia specials.

Update at 20:12pm, Lahore:

According to Dawn News, Nawaz Sharif’s convoy is inching towards the Minar-e-Pakistan where it is expected that he may address the participants of the Long March. Meanwhile, Minister for Information Qamar Zaman Kaira has said in a press conference today that the participants of the Long March will be stopped by force.

Update at 18:44 pm, Lahore:

Herald’s bureau chief Mohammad Badar Alam informs Dawn.com that a police bus near the IG Punjab office has been set on fire. Eyewitnesses informed Badar that protestors had surrounded the policemen in the bus when it reportedly ran over a participant of the Long March. The protesters then reportedly set the police bus ablaze in reaction to the incident. There are unconfirmed reports that the protestor might have suffered serious injuries in the incident.

Mewanwhile, Ihsam Ahmed from Dawn newspaper’s Lahore Bureau informs that train stations in Lahore are crowded with passengers who have been unable to reach their destinations through buses and long distance passenger coaches.

Update at 17:55 pm, Lahore:

According to Dawn News, Deputy Attorney General-II, Lahore, Abdul Hayee Gillani, has resigned in protest against police high handedness in Lahore. The television channel also reports that heavy contingents of police have arrived at the Islamabad airport.

Update at 17:42 pm, Lahore:

Dawn News reports that Nawaz Sharif’s convoy has reached the GPO chowk, where earlier in the day police baton charged and tear gassed the participants of the Long March. There are reports also that police deployments from the area have been pulled back.

Aitzaz Ahsan says that the writ of the government has ended today. Meanwhile, Shahbaz Shairf has reportedly said that Prime Minister Gilani must act now. Chief Minister Balochistan Raisani, who has reached Islamabad, has told Dawn News that the deposed chief justice,  Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, has become politicised.

Update at 17:02 pm, Lahore:

Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan has reached the Lahore High Court premises. Dozens of lawyers have surrounded the former Supreme Court Bar Assosication president. Earlier there were reports that Mr Ahsan was under house arrest.

Update at 15:35 pm, Quetta:

SCBA President Kurd arrived at the airport to board a flight for Islamabad. However, he has been banned from entering the Punjab and is not being allowed to board the flight. He says that the ban on his movement is illegal.

Update at 15:35 pm, Lahore:

Nawaz Sharif’s convoy has almost reached Shama Chowk, and he is shortly expected to reach Mall Road as well. There, police are reorganizing in time for his arrival. Rangers have also been asked to deploy around Lahore to maintain law and order, particularly at GPO Chowk once Sharif arrives.

Hospitals across Lahore are on high alert, in case of any violence or any other eventuality.

At Lahore High Court, the numbers of protesters continue to swell.

Update at 15:25 pm, Lahore:

A few dozen protesters have again assembled in front of the high court gate. Police has completely surrounded the area and security has been tightened.

Update at 15:17 pm, Lahore:

There are unconfirmed reports that Bushra Ahsan, Aitzaz Ahsan’s wife, has been arrested. Arrests are underway at Lahore High Court — several civil society members and student activists have been arrested. Baton-charging continues.

Update at 15:15 pm, Lahore:

Long March participants and police continue to clash at GPO Chowk. Baton charges and tear-gas shelling are underway on the part of police to control movement of protesters, who have again tried to leave the Lahore High Court premises and move towards the police barricade.

The Lahore CCPO has reportedly requested permission to use ‘extreme measures’ or ‘deadly force’ against Long March participants.

Nawaz Sharif’s convoy has arrived at Muslim Town (en route to Lahore High Court). He is accompanied by hundreds of party workers who are moving on foot or on motorcycles (according to some reports, the supporters number in the thousands). There are no police forces obstructing the movement of Sharif’s convoy.

Update at 15:00 pm, Lahore:

Police have virtually taken over The Mall, continuing to fire the occasional rounds of tear gas shells. Protesters are waiting in the wings though. Resting on the side of the streets, they will certainly be charged up again if and when Nawaz Sharif arrives here.

Update at 14:45 pm, Lahore:

Nawaz Sharif’s convoy has changed its route and is trying to move towards Muslim Town, Lahore.

Long March participants are surging towards GPO Chowk/ High Court Chowk from all directions — the four roads leading to the area are overrun by protesters.

Update at 14:40 pm, Lahore:

Policemen are charging towards the Lahore High Court entrance.They continue tear-gas shelling and are throwing stones. Some police officials are also trying to enter the GPO building.

Meanwhile, protesters accompanying Sharif’s convoy are staging a sit-in near Kalma Chowk, where the convoy’s movement was blocked by city buses that had been lined across the road. Protesters are trying to push over and move the buses. CCPO Lahore has arrived at Kalma Chowk.

Another group of protesters at Muslim Town, Lahore, are also raising slogans.

Update at 14:25 pm, Lahore:

Tear gas shelling continues as a few protesters make a brave comeback. Stench and smoke fill the area. Protesters here near the Lahore High Court are anxiously awaiting his arrival. Clashes continue to take place between protesters and police on various roads close to the Mall.

Update at 14:14 pm, Lahore:

Nawaz Sharif’s convoy has reached Kalma Chowk, Lahore, but is not being able to proceed further.

Update at 14:12 pm, Islamabad:

There are reports that Javed Hashmi has been arrested. Meanwhile, Interior Ministry sources are reporting that two suicide attackers headed to Lahore have been apprehended in Peshawar.

Update at 14:00 pm, Islamabad:

Senior PML-N party member Javed Hashmi has been surrounded by law-enforcing personnel. It is believed that he will be issued detention orders as well, though this is unconfirmed.

Update at 13:50 pm, Lahore:

The police have cracked down on the protesters, arresting a few of them and wielding batons on many others. The area around the high court gate is full of smoke and has been cleared of all protesters.

Update at 13:40 pm, Lahore:

More tear gas is fired. Protesters are running for cover, coughing and wiping their eyes. Nawaz Sharif meanwhile has left his residence and is supposed to be heading towards The Mall, according to sources.

Update at 13:35 pm, Lahore:

An announcement is being made from inside the Lahore High Court asking all protesters to gather in front of the court gate. They are being told to get ready to stage a sit-in on The Mall.

Update at 1:35 pm, Lahore:

Protesters at GPO Chowk Lahore are engaged in clashes with Lahore police forces. Tear gas shells have been fired into the crowds. Stones are being throw between police officers and Long March participants.

Update at 1:30 pm, Lahore:

Hanif Abbasi and Ch. Nisar Ali Khan have also been issued detention orders.

Aitzaz Ahsan has also been put under three-day house arrest. He says that the Long March will now continue for an indefinite period, until the containers in Islamabad are removed.

Update at 1:25 pm, Islamabad:

Police sources say Shahbaz Sharif is yet to receive his detention orders. He was hiding at the residence of Chaudhry Taveer Khan in Rawalpindi, but is now reported to have left.

Meanwhile, Imran Khan is underground in Islamabad to avoid detention.

Update at 12:50 pm, Lahore:

A crowd of PML-N workers – a few hundred strong – joins the protesters from the Old Anarkali side. They are carrying party flags and big banners with Nawaz Sharif’s face splashed across them.

Are there more clashes than expected? Police seem to think so.

Update at 12:40 pm, Lahore:

Meanwhile in Lahore, Muhammad Badar Alam, Bureau Chief of Herald continues to update Dawn.com with the latest developments. The first shells of tear gas have been fired in front of the Lahore High Court and a pungent smell has spread all over the place. Some police vehicles have been smashed and protesters can be seen scattered everywhere.

Updated at 12:30 pm, Islamabad:

Back in Islamabad, all roads leading to here from Rawalpindi and Faisalabad have been blocked. Same has been done with Islamabad express way and highway. We went there to check and again tried to enter, they stopped us and asked for our National Identity Cards (NIC) and any cars or NIC’s having Lahore address are being sent back. For the first time I noticed a heavy presence of Rangers. The only people who have so far been spared by the police and security personnel are the media, but I don’t know how long it will last. It seems in some places mobile jamming devices have also been installed as the phone networks are coming on and off. People on the streets claim that all mobile phones operating in the area may be blocked tomorrow.

Update at 12:30 pm, Lahore:

The atmosphere becomes charged as police and protesters clash where one side decides to hurl stones while the other side raises batons.

Updated at 12:10 pm, Lahore:

A few hundred activists of Jamaat-i-Islami have reached the Lahore High Court. Their leaders Liaqat Baloch and Ameerul Azeem, are riding in a truck and the crowd around them is building up.

Updated at 12:00 pm, Islamabad:

The scene in Islamabad begins to change as large numbers of containers get set up around Sharah-e-Dastoor area leading to Supreme Court of pakistan. I also spoke to people in the transport industry and was informed that they have limited public transport movement in Islamabad and no buses, wagons etc. can come in or go out of Islamabad.

Updated at 11:55 am, Lahore:

About 30 lawyers came and met the civil society activists who were stopped by the police from moving towards the high court. Police moved aside, the two groups met and walked towards the high court. Tempers rose among the protesters as they chant slogans against President Zardari.

Updated at 11:50 am, Lahore:

About a hundred civil society activists gather on the McLeod Road leading to the high court. They carry national flags, portraits of the deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and raise slogans in favour of dharna and against President Zardari.

Updated at 11:40 am, Lahore:

Some more lawyers, including former Lahore High Court bar president Anwar Kamal, arrive at the high court, as do some police vans to accommodate those who may be arrested. The city police chief also visits the place with his elaborate escort.

Updated at 11:40 am, Islamabad:

While we get our updates from Lahore, Dawn.com’s Musadiq Sanwal in Islamabad informs us that the city seems sleepy and quiet like most cities on Sunday mornings. There is very little traffic and no excitement on the roads. Generally streets are deserted, while rumours and speculations grow over the mornings’ developments so far. According to the word on the street, Shahbaz Sharif has evaded house arrest and has gone into hiding.

Updated at 11:30 am, Lahore:

About a hundred lawyers come out of the Lahore High Court clapping and chanting slogans with anti-Zardari and pro-dharna songs playing in the background. The temperature rises as the voices grow louder and the activists become more defiant.

Updated at 11:20 am, Lahore:

A dozen PML-N activists defy barricades and run towards the high court waving party flags and raising slogans for Nawaz Sharif. Police wield batons but allow them to proceed. None of them have been arrested so far either.

Updated at 11:15 am, Lahore:

Minutes before news came in that Aitzaz Ahsan had been arrested in Lahore, a helicopter was seen circling the Lahore High Court. Speculations rose on who it belonged to and who was inside. Salman Taseer? Possible, some thought. Some leading civil society activists including Hina Jilani and Shahtaj Qizalbash have also arrived at the high court.

Updated at 11:00 am, Lahore:

Scores of camera crew, reporters and analysts – including a few foreigners – stand vigilant outside Lahore High Court. From inside the court premises, revolutionary songs blare out. Some excited lawyers climb the gate, waving fists and yelling out slogans. Police and rangers stand guard throughout the area.

Updated at 10:50 am, Lahore:

At the last barricade between The Mall and McLeod Road, I had to show my press card and do some cajoling and convincing to enter the area in front of the Lahore High Court where all the action is supposed to be. The road, as expected, is deserted, barricaded and lined by dozens of policemen.

Updated at 10:45 am, Lahore:

Barricades reappear near the Lahore Hotel on McLeod Road. In the nearby Royal Park, breakfast is being sold and people wait around in lines to buy their meal.

Updated at 10:35 am, Lahore:

On the entire length of the Allama Iqbal Road between Dharampura and the railway station, there are no barricades visible. It appears to be a usual Sunday morning with some shops open, traffic lazily moving along and random kites flying in the neighbourhoods. Only roads approaching the Mall are blocked but life’s going as usual otherwise.

Updated at 10:25 am, Lahore:

On the intersection between the Mall and Zafar Ali Road, police stands guard, stopping traffic from entering the Mall. Less than 200 meters to the north of the Mall, life seems to be going on as usual. No police pickets are visible and young boys crowd the streets playing cricket. Business in this area remains unaffected as shops are opened and life continues normally.

Updated at 10:15 am, Lahore:

Half a dozen policemen stand at barricades near Sherpao Bridge. Jail Road has been closed.

Updated at 10:00 am, Lahore:

As news reports come in about Nawaz Sharif being placed under house-arrest, Herald’s bureau chief Muhammad Badar Alam updates Dawn.com on the street scene in Lahore: A lone policeman manning a barrier near Gulberg’s Main Market, diverts traffic away from the Main Boulevard. The road seems to be off-limits for everything moving on wheels.

6.00 PST

What should be a sleepy Sunday in Lahore is shaping up to be anything but. Lawyers and political activists of the PML-N are expected to descend on the city from across the country via plane, train, and automobile. Students from Lahore’s private and public universities are scheduled to congregate at Zaman Park before marching towards Mall Road to join the lawyers’ protest. It remains to be seen whether PML-N party workers, who have reportedly been in hiding for days, will emerge on the streets of Lahore today. Either way, those who have seen the Long March this far are determined to make their way to Islamabad in the course of the day, against all odds.

The possibility of a last minute reprieve also remains on the cards, after the federal government announced late last evening that it would file a review petition with the Supreme Court against the Sharif suspension, and Nawaz Sharif announced that he was open to ’round table talks’ hosted by Prime Minister Gilani.

Meanwhile, the announcement late last night that fuel supplies from Karachi to other parts of the country had been halted has caused alarm amongst those Pakistanis who are not directly involved with the Long March. Is the public’s patience wearing thin on day four of the lawyers’ protest?