February 16, 2006	Thursday	Muharram 17, 1427

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FAISALABAD, Feb 15: About a dozen rallies that were taken out in and around the city on Wednesday left seven people, including two policemen, injured.

Protesters staged demonstrations despite the ban imposed by the Punjab government on holding rallies and processions following violence in Lahore on Tuesday.

Four people suffered injuries in a police baton-charge and tear gas shelling in Jaranwala. On the call of Jaranwala Traders Association, all business activities remained shut against the publication of blasphemous sketches.

Students of seminaries and educational institutions took out a rally, attacked installations and damaged several billboards. They also hurled stones at police and vehicles and tried to set ablaze hoarding in the main bazaar.

To disperse the unruly mob, the police resorted to baton-charge and also used tear gas. Four protesters, including student Naveed, were injured.

A heavy police contingent, including Elite Force, was called out from Faisalabad to take control of the situation. The hide and seek between the police and protesters continued for about four hours.

Meanwhile, two seminary students and a constable sustained head injuries during a clash in Adam Chowk of Ghulam Muhammadabad area.

Hundreds of seminary students demonstrated in Saddar Bazaar and blocked traffic by burning tyres and erecting barricades.

Carrying sticks and iron rods, protesters marched through the area roads.

Similarly, a group of over 500 students of the GC University also took out a demonstration from the campus and damaged windowpanes of two buses on Jhang Road. While the police foiled their attempt to set ablaze the huge hoarding.

A clash also took place between the police and students of University of Agriculture. Law enforcers baton-charged the students and dispersed them when they tried to block Jail Road.

Scores of shopkeepers and residents of Dhudiwala and its adjoining areas and students blocked main roads by burning old tyres. The students forced shopkeepers of Jalvi Market to shut their business but the police foiled their attempt.

Meanwhile, an emergent meeting of the Citizens Police Liaison Committee condemned the publication of sketches.

Meanwhile, police have registered two separate cases against 1,000 protesters for obstructing public servant in discharge of their duties, attacking police and setting on fire furniture and fixture of private offices.

Gulberg police registered a case against 700 protesters on the report of SHO Asjad Altaf. The FIR claimed that the mob dashed into a clinical laboratory and offices of Nigerian cell phone company on Jail Road, damaged furniture and also pelted stones on police. Another case was registered against 300 protesters under similar charges by the Peoples Colony police.

Kasur: Six people suffered injuries at different places in clashes during protest rallies. The injured were hospitalized.

People from all walks of life and schools of thought took out rallies throughout the district. The main procession started from Baldia Chowk. About 5,000 people participated in the rally and took a round of the city. The protesters threw stones at banks on the Railway Road here and broke glasses. They did not even spare private clinics and schools. They ransacked the offices of private schools and, at some places, thrashed the principals for keeping schools open.

The centre of activity had been Steal Bagh Morr and the Lahore-Kasur Road where the protesters burnt several vehicles.

They damaged scores of police wagons and beat up Saddar and investigation DSPs. UC naib nazim Younas Bhatti who was leading a rally was thrashed and arrested by police. Later, he was released.

Meanwhile, Rangers were called out to control the situation. Police also fired teargas shells and baton charged protesters at some places.