Sectarian clash: 48 people surrender to police
117 people expected to be released in exchange for the voluntary arrests.
24 people each from both sides turned themselves in. PHOTO: FILE
MULTAN:
As many as 48 people surrendered to the police on Thursday after week-long negotiations between regional peace committees of the Ahlsunnat Wal Jamaat (AWSJ) and the local Shia community.
24 people each from both sides turned themselves in.
As many as 119 people had been nominated by the two sides following killing of 10 people in Bhakkar over a sectarian clash.
The suspects were taken to various police stations for interrogations.
The surrender is expected to result in the release of 117 people being kept in custody under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) act, 65 from the ASWJ and 52 from the Shia community. 31 people from both sides have been released on bail in the last seven days.
DPO Sarfraz Falki assured delegations from both sides that those found innocent would be released soon.
A peace committee has been trying to negotiate peace between the two sides. Police are hopeful that a peace deal will be finalised within the next few days.
Section 144 is still in place at Darya Khan, Panj Garaayin and Kotla Jam. Rangers have been patrolling parts of Bhakkar and the district administration and the police are monitoring the situation.
FIRs had also been lodged against two Shia clerics under Section 16 of the MPO law. A report of a special branch of the Punjab police blamed these clerics for disruption of peace in the district.
Allama Qaswar Hussain has been arrested on charges of inciting violence.
Allama Ghulam Hur, principal of Aal-i -Imran seminary, was also arrested on the same charges.
DCO Zahid Hussain Mumtaz told The Express Tribune that the government would not allow anybody to create a law and order situation.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 6th, 2013.
As many as 48 people surrendered to the police on Thursday after week-long negotiations between regional peace committees of the Ahlsunnat Wal Jamaat (AWSJ) and the local Shia community.
24 people each from both sides turned themselves in.
As many as 119 people had been nominated by the two sides following killing of 10 people in Bhakkar over a sectarian clash.
The suspects were taken to various police stations for interrogations.
The surrender is expected to result in the release of 117 people being kept in custody under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) act, 65 from the ASWJ and 52 from the Shia community. 31 people from both sides have been released on bail in the last seven days.
DPO Sarfraz Falki assured delegations from both sides that those found innocent would be released soon.
A peace committee has been trying to negotiate peace between the two sides. Police are hopeful that a peace deal will be finalised within the next few days.
Section 144 is still in place at Darya Khan, Panj Garaayin and Kotla Jam. Rangers have been patrolling parts of Bhakkar and the district administration and the police are monitoring the situation.
FIRs had also been lodged against two Shia clerics under Section 16 of the MPO law. A report of a special branch of the Punjab police blamed these clerics for disruption of peace in the district.
Allama Qaswar Hussain has been arrested on charges of inciting violence.
Allama Ghulam Hur, principal of Aal-i -Imran seminary, was also arrested on the same charges.
DCO Zahid Hussain Mumtaz told The Express Tribune that the government would not allow anybody to create a law and order situation.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 6th, 2013.