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MINGORA, May 10: Dozens of workers of the banned Tanzim Nefaz Shariat-i-Muhammadi (TNSM) were arrested in Malakand for their alleged links with terrorist organizations.
They were, however, released after being questioned and cleared by investigation agencies.
A police official told Dawn that those taken into custody were questioned thoroughly and found innocent.
He, however, avoided revealing their names, saying that innocent people should not be punished.
The police also arrested a number of leaders of the TNSM in the Dir district.
DEMONSTRATION: The workers of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Swat, staged a protest demonstration against the government at the Nishat Chowk on Friday.
They raised slogans against the government’s pro-America policies and vowed to oppose it.
The demonstration turned into a public meeting, which was addressed by the party leaders.
The protesters blocked the Mingora-Saidu Sharif road for some time.
The speakers alleged that the rulers were following policies of Zionist forces and they had launched a crackdown against the Mujahideen and students of religious schools. They said steps were being taken for the pleasure of anti-Islam forces.
They said the rulers were a security risk and they should forthwith step down, otherwise the people would throw them out. They said that launching a crackdown against the Al Qaeda members was a pretext to weaken the Muslims.
They warned the rulers to stop taking irrational steps which could harm the country’s integrity and solidarity.
The protesters also set the effigy of US President George W. Bush on fire and condemned his policies against the Muslims.
