Protests held over killing of religious scholar

BATTAGRAM/ HARIPUR/ BALAKOT:

Activists of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) and other political and religious parties on Wednesday staged separate protest demonstrations in Battagram and Haripur in response to a nationwide call against the killing of prominent religious scholar Maulana Muhammad Idrees, criticising the government and demanding the arrest of the killers.

Held at Kacheri Chowk in Battagram, the rally drew a sizeable turnout, including supporters of Pakistan Muslim League-N, Jamaat-e-Islami, and Awami National Party, alongside trade union representatives and local residents. Protesters chanted slogans criticising the government and condemning what they described as the "barbaric" murder of the scholar.

Addressing the gathering, local leaders, including JUI district emir Nisar Khan and others, expressed grave concern over what they termed a growing pattern of targeted killings of religious figures.