Land grabbing case: Protesters set tyres ablaze, block traffic flow

Residents and plot owners took to the streets, burnt tyres and blocked the road in protest

RAWALPINDI: At least six people were injured when two groups of armed men clashed in Rawalpindi on Saturday afternoon.

Following the clash, protesters blocked Adiala Road for around half an hour by burning tyres.

Zahid Ahmed, one of the protesters and a resident of Gulshane Shumali - a housing society near Adiala Road, said that Chaudhry Aurangzeb, a resident of Morgah, had allegedly sent 25 armed men to grab their land on Saturday.

Ahmed alleged that the armed men opened fire at them, injuring a man identified as Wasim who sustained a bullet wound to his hand.

Ahmed further claimed that the armed men had bulldozed many plots in the town claiming ownership of the land two days ago as well. He alleged Aurangzeb had two canals of land in Gulshane-Shumaali and wanted to grab 24 more, but the matter was already before a civil court and a stay order had been issued.

However, after the clash, residents and plot owners from Gulshane Shumali took to the streets, burnt tyres and blocked the road in protest.

They raised slogans were raised against SHO Saddar Bairuni Yar Muhammad and DSP Saddar Circle Saleem Khattak for their alleged support of the land grabbers.

Owing to the blockade, a prison van carrying under-trial prisoners to Adiala Jail from the district courts was caught as well.

They called on the City Police Officer Israr Ahmed Abbasi to suspend the accused police officials.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 5^th, 2017.