Brawling in favour of the blasphemy laws

Brawl breaks out between two religious groups during rally.

KAMALIA: A brawl broke out on Friday between two religious groups during a rally that was taken out in connection with the Tahhafuz Namoos-e-Risalat on Friday.

Members of the two religious groups blocked the main road in Kamalia for over three hours. The Toba Tek Singh district police officer (DPO) took notice of the incident and took in clerics from both religious groups for questioning.

According to the police, the religious parties took out a rally from the Markazi Eidgah Khera Shaheed Chowk, which reached Kamalia Chowk police station. The rally turned into a demonstration after two rival groups clashed when the leaders of one sect started their speeches and the other sect members shouted slogans against them.

The workers of both parties were soon engaged in a brawl and several people were injured. “Two men from one of the groups began throwing shoes at the others for sloganeering against them,” said an eyewitness Kaleem, adding “After that we couldn’t tell who was involved because everyone began to push at each other.”

After the incident members of both groups blocked the road and staged a sit-in as both groups kept on shouting slogans against each other.

An additional police force was summoned from Toba Tek Singh, Pir Mahal and Saddar police station in Kamalia to control the situation. “I have already ordered clerics from both groups to come to my offices so we can ensure the matter is not taken any further,” the DPO said.

The DPO called an emergency meeting of clerics from both groups to broker peace and the protesters dispersed after four hours.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 2^nd, 2011.