A young man was killed and half a dozen people, including police officers, were injured as violence erupted over an alleged incident of desecration of the Holy Quran in a Hyderabad neighbourhood late Wednesday night.
Three separate FIRs have been filed at Phuleli police station in connection with the incident that occurred in the Pinjra Pool area. The suspect, Naveed Memon, has been charged in one of the cases for allegedly desecrating the Holy Book under Section 295-B of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).
In the two other cases, Zahid Qureshi, Danish, Umair, Ahmed Raza, Shoaib, Saeed, Mubashir, Khali, and Hamza are among 400 to 500 men nominated as suspects, charged with violence, obstructing the duty of law enforcement, and assaulting policemen. A fourth FIR, regarding the killing of Hasnain Saleem, who was passing through the area on a motorbike with his sister, is yet to be filed.
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The complainant, Sub-Inspector Ghulam Hussain Solangi, stated that Memon allegedly desecrated the Holy Book at his apartment, where he lived with his father, Muhammad Younus Memon. The accused was initially taken to the Phuleli police station and later transferred to the CIA Centre.
According to police sources, Memon confessed to his offense during the initial interrogation, saying that he was incited by some people to commit this crime.
When the police arrived in the area and apprehended Memon, a large number of people attempted to seize him from police custody, pelting stones at the officers and setting fire to some vehicles.
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Sources at Liaquat University Hospital reported that four police officers were brought to the facility with injuries sustained during the attack by the furious mob. Police stated that they were forced to use baton charges and aerial firing to disperse the violent mob.
One of the shells hit the face of Saeed Memon, a relative of the slain Naveed Memon. Saeed was later transferred to the dental ward in LUH. The body of Hasnain Saleem was subsequently handed over to the family after a postmortem examination. The markets in Pinjra Pool and adjacent areas remained closed on Thursday as tension persisted in the locality.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 13th, 2023.
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