ISLAMABAD, Nov 25: The federal government has directed the Balochistan government to recover Rs21 million in damages caused to public property by religious parties during anti-US protest strikes.

The Balochistan government has also been told to register cases against the religious parties involved under the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Act and arrest their leaders and workers, source said on Saturday.

The directives were issued after owners of two cinemas in Quetta had submitted their claims for damages. The owner of Imdad cinema submitted his claim worth Rs19 million whereas the owner of Paradise cinema sought Rs2 million in damages.

On Oct 9, a mob protesting against the US attacks on Afghanistan had set on fire the two cinemas. In view of the government policies, the person whose property is damaged during the anti-US demonstrations would be compensated. Accordingly, sources said, the cinema-owners submitted their claims.

The federal government directed the Balochistan administration to register cases against the leaders and workers of the religious parties involved and recover damages from those parties, sources said.

According to the act, the accused can be awarded imprisonment from six months to five years, if proved guilty.