Protest: Police releases ASWJ detainees after sit-in

The Shia community continued with their boycott and did not hold talks with the police or city administration.

PESHAWAR:

Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) held a successful sit-in at Kohati Chowk against the detention of their activists who were later freed.

Hundreds of people from the group participated in the demonstration which started Tuesday morning.

The protest was announced on Monday night after the administration did not release six of 12 activists from Central Prison Peshawar. The district amir of the group, Maulana Ismail Derwaish, told the Express Tribune they had negotiated with the authorities earlier, who agreed to end the detention.

“When only a few were freed, the police assured the ASWJ the rest would be let go by Monday. The deadline passed and our men were not released so we called for a sit-in,” Derwaish said.

The participants marched to Shouba Chowk at approximately 3pm after which the police released the remaining six members.

The City DSP Imtiaz Khan and the deputy commissioner played a vital role in the release of the ASWJ men, claimed Derwaish.

On February 10, 18 workers of Imamia Jirga and ASWJ were arrested under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order in raids ordered by Deputy Commissioner Javed Marwat.

The leadership of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat negotiated the matter with the authorities last week in which they were assured that all their members would be released if the outfit cooperated with the administration.

The Shia community on the other hand continued with their boycott and did not hold talks with the police or city administration. They were, however, also promised that their activists would be freed soon.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27^th, 2013.