7, April 2005	Thursday	27 Safar 1426

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GUJRANWALA, April 6: Over 150 MMA activists were arrested while 84 of them were sent to jail on judicial remand on Wednesday for their involvement in an attack on police during a marathon race. DPO Dr Arif Mushtaq summoned almost all SDPOs and SHOs of the city in his office and held an emergent meeting. The DPO directed them to arrest all MMA activists involved in the attack, setting on fire official vehicles after throwing patrol bombs and injuring policemen deployed outside the Jinnah Stadium.

Complying with the orders, the police raided the residences and seminaries in the city and arrested the MMA activists. As many as 28 activists were arrested by Model Town police while raids were continuing for the arrest of other activists.

Civil Lines police also got a five-day physical remand of Wasil Khan, Abu Bakar, Tanvir Ahmad, Jehanzeb Khan and Zafar Ahmad from a court. The police pleaded before court that they had to recover patrol bombs and sticks from their possession.

Meanwhile, MMA leaders Maulana Ali Ahmad, Maulana Abdul Malik Shah, Maulana Obaidul Rehman Madni, Bilal Qudrat and Hafiz Hameeduddin Awan condemned the police action in seminaries and mosques.

They alleged that raiding teams entered houses without any warrants and humiliated the inmates. They pledged to continue their protest against the government.

Robbery graph: The residents of Ghakkhar besides Pakistan Wapda Hydro-Electric Central Labour Union and Pakistan Medical Association expressed concern over increase in robberies and demanded police high-ups to protect people life and property.

At a joint meeting held here on Tuesday they pointed out that outlaws looted the clinic of a doctor and a house on the GT Road a few days ago between 8pm and 9pm. Two Wapda linemen Muhammad Amin and Muhammad Boota were deprived of cash, mobile and motorcycles near Ghakkhar grid station on GT Road when they were on their way to perform their duties. Similarly, several passers-by, including women, were robbed on Nat Kalan Road within a week.

They were of the views that it was the moral duty of police to protect the lives and properties of the peoples.