Blasphemy arrests: Chitral nazim vows to disrupt polo tournament

Says event will not be allowed till all 22 people detained are set free

CHITRAL: Chitral District Nazim Maghfirat Shah on Wednesday said that the upcoming polo tournament in the district would not be allowed to take place unless all 22 people detained by the authorities concerned in connection with the recent blasphemy incident were set free.

An apparently deranged man made some remarks considered blasphemous by other worshippers at a mosque during Friday prayers, stoking riots in Chitral last month as an enraged mob tried to ransack the police station where he was confined after his arrest.



The mob, estimated at between 2,000 and 3,000, wanted the police to hand the accused over to them so that they could dispense justice. However, law-enforcement agencies used tear gas to disperse the crowd.

The nazim also got all the flags and placards removed from the polo ground where the Khatme Nabuwat conference was held and attended by the district nazim, naib nazim and political parties.

Showing his resentment over the imprisonment of 22 people who were booked under the Anti-Terrorism Act, the nazim asked the district police officer to withdraw all sections under which ‘innocent’ people were booked.

“We demand that the provincial government should hang the person who poses a threat to local security and created a law and order situation in the district,” he said, adding, “He should be hanged immediately for committing blasphemy.”



Shah said: “We will never let the administration stage the tournament in the district in such a tense situation,” and added: “If the district administration takes steps in this respect, then we will protest and take law into our hands.”

The nazim said the district police officer had promised us that all those arrested persons would face trial in the district and would be set free later on.

However, he lamented that the police had shifted them to prisons in DI Khan and Swat “which we condemn and ask the DC and DPO to fulfil the promise he has made to the public”.



Meanwhile, Chitral Polo Association President Shehzada Sikandar-ul-Mulk announced that the polo tournament would be held as per its schedule and at the same venue.

“We condemn the imposition of Section 144 by the district nazim. Nobody has authority to stop locals from observing their cultural festivals and sticking to their heritage,” he told a press conference at the district press club.