PESHAWAR, April 14: A court has granted bail to 13 people, including a union nazim and two councillors, accused of attacking offices of musicians and damaging their music instruments here at Dabgari.

The judicial magistrate, Aftab Afridi, accepted the bail applications of the accused on Wednesday on the grounds that the complainant had entered into a compromise with them and had withdrawn a complaint.

The nazim of union council Aasia, Mohammad Iqbal, two councillors Ghulam Hussain and Naseemullah, President of Anti-Vulgarity Movement Zahir Shah and nine others were arrested on Saturday night after they led a violent mob which attacked the offices of musicians at Dabgari bazaar.

The mob smashed music instruments and put to torch harmoniums, drums and other things. The police of the area reached the spot and arrested the attackers.

An FIR was registered with the Shah Qabool police station, by one of the affected musicians, Rafique Alam, under Sections 452, 506, 341, 436, 427, 197, 148, 149 and 152 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

On the one hand the accused continued campaign against the musicians and on the other hand inhabitants of the locality and members of the Anti-Vulgarity Movement were making hectic efforts for mending fences with the musicians and finally the complainant was convinced to enter into the compromise with the accused.

It is learnt that the complainant was taken to the court on Wednesday morning, where he informed the court that he had no objection to the bail applications.

But soon after the 13 accused were released, the members of the movement went to the Peshawar Press Club and told a press conference that they wanted the removal of all music offices from the locality.

They claimed that the musicians were a source of vulgarity in the area and the inhabitants as well as other shopkeepers were opposed to the continuation of their business there. Some of the musicians told Dawn that they had been deceived by the accused.

They claimed that they were requested by the rival group for a patch-up and after the court released the accused they again started campaigning against them (musicians). The musicians claimed that they had been doing business in Dabgari area even before the creation of Pakistan.

The elected members of the MMA including MNAs Shabir Ahmad Khan and Sabir Awan have been supporting the movement against musicians and have asked the government to force the musicians to vacate the area.