Dera Bugti tense after JWP, JUI-F protest

QUETTA:

Widespread protests were held across Balochistan against the Masjid-e-Nabwi incident as protesters termed the entire episode at one of the holiest places of Islam sacrilegious.

They demanded strict action against those involved.

Supporters of Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazal (JUI-F) staged a joint protest demonstration against the Madina incident in Dera Bugti and said that it was unfortunate that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers even ignored the sanctity of the mosque.

The protesters marched from Bugti Bazar to Allah Walla Chowk. They strongly condemned what they called the attack on Nawabzada Shah Zain Bugti.

“The elements involved in the attack should be given strict and exemplary punishment to make them an example for others,” Abdul Samad Bugti, one of the protesters said.

He said the governments of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia should take strict action against such elements. JWP supporters also marched in Zain Koh, Pir Koh, and other areas of Dera Bugti to record their protest.

“Our protest will continue till punishment of the accused,” Muhammad Nawaz Bugti, another protester in Zain Koh said while talking to The Express Tribune.

The protesters were chanting slogans against the former prime minister Imran Khan and his party.

The Dera Bugti administration had taken strict security arrangements to avert any untoward incident during the protest demonstrations. Levies and police personnel were deployed in various places to maintain law and order situation.

In the end the protesting mob set an effigy of Imran Khan on fire. In Kalat district of Balochistan religious scholars strongly condemned the Madina incident and termed it a conspiracy against Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.

In their Friday sermons, the religious scholars lashed out at PTI for encouraging its workers to chant slogans at the holy places just for political point scoring and belittling political rivals. Protests were also held in other parts of the province.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 30^th, 2022.