Police arrested over 100 IDPs and put them in Bannu jail on Thursday after a brawl erupted between the policemen and the IDPs waiting outside the Bannu Sports Complex ration point.
The displaced people allegedly pelted stones at the police when they were asked to form a queue. As a result, the police used tear gas and baton-charged the IDPs. In the ensuing scuffle, 10 tribesmen and 12 policemen sustained injuries.
A case was filed against the tribesmen at Saddar police station under several sections. The IDPs too filed a petition in the local court through a lawyer seeking their release from jail.
On Saturday, Memon accompanied by a large number of PML-N workers and locals held a protest sit-in outside the central jail demanding the arrested IDPs be released immediately. The main Bannu-Kohat Road remained blocked for several hours due to the sit-in.
While addressing the protest, the MNA said Marvi said the sit-in would continue till the accused IDPs are set free.
Meanwhile, the youth wing of Jamat-e-Islami, Shabab-e-Mili, also protested against the detention and use of force against the tribesmen in front of Bannu jail.
Court hearing
The case against the IDPs was heard in the court of Judicial Magistrate-1 Farmanullah. Bannu public prosecutor, who was representing the district police officer and administration, told the court that they had no objection to the IDPs being released on bail.
The magistrate then issued orders that all the accused be released on bail after providing sureties of Rs50,000 each.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 16th, 2014.
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