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| November 11, 2001 | Sunday | Shaba’an 24, 1422 |
Police raid JUI Madressah
DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Nov 10: Police contingents trying to restore traffic on various blocked roads faced fierce firing on Dera-Bannu road near Jamiatul Maarif al Sharia, Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s Madressah.
Police authorities claimed that some elements of the Jamiat Ulema Islam were involved in the firing.
The Police carried out an operation on Friday to arrest those involved in the firing.
Nazim of the institution, Maulana Ataullah Shah, said at a press conference at the Jamia that the crackdown was led by DSP Hanif Khan and District Nazim Latifullah Khan Alizai.
He said the police had resorted to aerial firing and tear gas inside the Madressah. He said the students were severely beaten four students were wounded.
He alleged that police had taken away three motorcycles, three bicycles, more than Rs550,000 and gold and silver ornaments collected as donations for Afghans.
Maulana Shah alleged that five motorcycles, five Datson pick-ups one Jeep were damaged by police. He denied the involvement of any person from the JUI in the firing.
A complete strike was observed here and all the markets, business centres and bazaars remained closed. No transport was available.
A large number of activists of JUI, Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan and other religious parties came out in the morning and laid trunks on the Dera-Bannu, Dera-Punjab, Dera-Daraban-Chowdhwan and Dera-Tank roads blocking the traffic. Tyres were also put on fire.
The police with APCs restored traffic on the Dera-Punjab road using tear gas and baton charge at Sheikh Yousuf Adda.
The protesters pelted stones on police and a number of officials, including CIA Inspector Irshad Khan, were injured.
Later, the protesters gathered near Maulana Rehman’s residence on Dera-Bannu road near Airport, where police faced severe firing from inside the Madressah, which lasted for half an hour.
A rally was also taken out after the Juma prayer, from Tijarat Ganj, that dispersed at Dr Abdul Qadeer Chowk.
The protesters were holding party flags, placards and banners asking the government to review its Afghan policies.
The rally was addressed by Maulana Alauddin, JUI Leaders Sh