Monday, March 1, 2010

Faisalabad tense after riots break out

---The daily Nation, Pakistan    
Monday, March 01, 2010
Faisalabad tense after riots break out

FAISALABAD — The City remained tense as factions belonging to two different sects clashed over the issue of a disputed mosque on Sunday morning. The angry mob burnt dozens of cars and bikes in Usman Town Mithopura within Sargodha Road Police Station’s area.

Police arrested some 15 persons and were able to bring the situation under control. RPO Faisalabad Muhammad Tahir has meanwhile suspended the SHO of Sargodha Road Police Station on the charges of showing negligence.

Earlier, DCO Saeed Wahla had imposed restrictions under Section 144 CrPC across the district after shots were fired on an Eid Milad-un-Nabi procession in Ghulam Muham-madabad area on Saturday night. During the violence that followed one person was killed, as demonstrators and police fought pitched battles in the locality.

The clashes erupted when unknown armed men resorted to indiscriminate firing on the procession near Goll Mosque critically injuring three people. The angry protestors burnt dozens of cars, bikes and building of the local police station. The house of International Khatm-e-Nabuwwat General Secretary Zahid Mehmood Qasmi was also set ablaze. Meanwhile, 55-year-old Mushtaq died on the spot during the clashes with the cops who baton-charged and fired tear gas shells in a bid to disperse the crowd but was unable to bring the situation under control till late Saturday night. People also pelted stones on Goll Mosque and attacked Ghulamabad Police Station while setting a fire dozens of vehicle parked there besides torching the building and some records as well.

The crowd destroyed the house of Zahid Qasmi and did not let the fire fighters to extinguish the inferno. Later, on the appeal of police high ups, Qasmi surrendered himself before police along with ten of his cronies and some weapons.

URL: www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-d...ots-break-out
 
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