![]() |
|||
|
|
Three killed, 124 hurt Protesters run amok in Peshawar Vehicles, buildings, shops torched; troops called out; one more dies in Lahore riots By Javed Aziz Khan PESHAWAR: At least three persons were killed and more than 124, including 18 policemen, injured as tens of thousands of protesters torched 26 vehicles and scores of offices of local and multinational companies along with departmental stores in different parts of the city on Wednesday. Paramilitary Frontier Constabulary and the Frontier Corps were called out as police arrested around 450 protesters. Many of them have been charged with damaging public and private property and the provincial government closed educational institutions for one week to avoid further damage to the city. Police estimated that well over 40,000 rioters flooded the streets to protest the publication of blasphemous caricatures. Other sources claimed their number to be more than 60,000. A government official disclosed the presence of a number of criminals as well as Afghan refugees among the protesters to resort to destruction in a planned way. The protesters, carrying weapons also fired at police personnel while traders in Karkhano Market opened fire on rioters in retaliation to attacks on their shops and a looting spree there. Firing was also reported from Gulbahar, Kohat Road, Cantonment and Haji Camp. Traffic was off the road and all business concerns closed and the entire city gave a deserted look for the whole day. The GT Road remained blocked for nine hours, and was giving the look of a battlefield where law-enforcers fired teargas shells and baton-charged thousands of youngsters, who set on fire a number of public and private sector offices and shops. Nineteen vehicles of a Korean bus company were set on fire inside its bus terminal on GT Road. A police vehicle, two motorbikes and a private Suzuki car were also torched. Those killed in separate incidents were identified as Feroz Khan, who died of electrocution after a wire fell on him due to firing on Dalazak Road, 9-year-old Wakil and 8-year-old Muhammad died of bullet injuries in Gulbahar and Phandu Road respectively and a young unidentified girl. ASP Gulbahar Sadiq Dogar, DSP City Khan Raziq and SHO Banaras Khan, were among the 18 policemen received injuries in clashes. The two local hospitals were treating some 120 people for injuries caused by firing, shelling, pelting of stones and baton-charge. The mob torched a KFC outlet, an office of a local cellular phone company and a real estate dealer on the University Road, the Daewoo Stand on the GT Road, a patrol pump on the Charsadda Road and about a dozen shops in different parts of the city. The pipeline providing gas to the city was also damaged. Many of the protesters were involved in looting cash and goods after damaging shops and offices. There were reports that rioters looted heavy amount of cash and valuables from Daewoo stand, a Bata store, offices of cellular phone and banks and other departmental stores. Many alleged that those who attacked the Daewooo bus terminal were transporters exploiting the opportunity. The protesters also damaged electricity installations, streetlights, billboards and smashed windowpanes of all the offices and departmental stores that were not covered. Several windowpanes avoided destruction by displaying banners inscribed with slogan to protest the publication of blasphemous caricatures. Salman Aslam & Awais Saleem adds from Lahore: One person was killed and three others were injured on Wednesday when police allegedly opened fire at a demonstration staged by the Islami Jamiat Talaba at the Punjab University’s New Campus to protest blasphemous cartoons. The deceased was identified as Rizwan, a waiter of the PU’s Hostel No 18. Another hostel employee and two PU students besides six policemen, including a DSP and an SHO and at least five children of a nearby school were among the injured. The IJT activists gave the strike call on Monday and decided to go ahead with it despite a government ban on rallies after Tuesday’s riots. The IJT demonstration had decided to remain inside the campus area but some of them came on the Main Canal Road. To disperse them, the police fired teargas and then live bullets. One bullet hit Rizwan. He was rushed to the Jinnah Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The Namaz-i-Janaza of the deceased was held at the hostel, which was attended by over 5,000 students, teachers and employees of the varsity. MMA President Qazi Hussain Ahmad was also present. After the incident, the most of the students left the hostels. Sources apprehend that the university would be closed from Thursday (today) to avoid any further clashes on the issue. The PU administration is yet to file any FIR regarding the killing of its employee. The heavy contingents of police were deployed on the campus till late Wednesday night but the barricades were lifted and the flow of traffic resumed. Elsewhere in the city, small groups rampaged through the streets, torching and damaging vehicles. The protesters also clashed with police on roads near The Mall. The News International, Pakistan Update
| World
| National
| Karachi
| Islamabad
| Lahore
| Business |