The city police registered four cases against more than 50 individuals and arrested 15 of them after a dispute among young boys escalated into an attack by armed men of a tribe in several localities, including Ghanta Ghar Bazaar and nearby residential areas.
The conflict had begun on March 5 in Block H, where a fight among boys led to gunfire. According to sources, the police did not take immediate action, which prompted the affected group to assault a man named Riaz Wadani. A video of the violence went viral on social media, after which the police registered a case and arrested the attackers.
Some members of the Wadani tribe allegedly gathered near DG Canal, where they decided to retaliate against the other community. Reports suggest that funds were collected to support the action. On Wednesday at around 4pm, a large group led by Riaz Wadani, Momin Laghari and others stormed the Ghanta Ghar Bazaar on vehicles.
They vandalised shops, damaged public property and later moved into Block O and Block K, where they continued their rampage. Women were also reportedly harassed.
A case was registered against 23 identified and 30 unidentified suspects, of whom nine were arrested. In another case, six other men were taken into custody.
Two of the arrested suspects were minors who were granted bail on bonds of Rs50,000 each, while seven others were placed under two-day police remand.
Former deputy mayor Sheikh Israr Ahmed, businessman Muhammad Bilal and other community leaders urged the citizens to remain peaceful and appealed to the district police officer (DPO) to take form a committee to prevent such incidents in the future.
DPO Syed Ali spoke with residents of the affected area and ordered increased police patrolling and tighter security.
The Prime Minister's Special Assistant Huzaifa Rahman stepped in to mediate between the communities. He engaged with senior figures from both sides, advising restraint and dialogue to restore peace. Prominent Wadani leaders, including Haji Naseer and Haji Nazir, assured him that they would abide by any decision made for the city's betterment. Representatives from the Sheikh community, including Sheikh Israr and Sheikh Zahoor Ahmed, requested time for consultation.
Huzaifa Rahman affirmed that all necessary measures would be taken to maintain harmony in the city. He stressed that no one would be allowed to take the law into their own hands and that those responsible for the violence would face strict legal consequences.
Addressing a press conference, Jamaat-e-Islami Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Usman Farooq urged the authorities to resolve the matter peacefully.
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