December 13, 2006	Wednesday	Ziqa'ad 21, 1427

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FAISALABAD, Dec 12: Police baton-charged and arrested 19 activists of the Jamaatud Dawa when they assembled outside the district council building for a student’s seminar on Tuesday.

The Jamaat announced holding of the seminar in the district council hall two weeks ago. Before the start of seminar the police locked the gates of the building and asked students to leave. But, they continued to gather.

Meanwhile, Jamaat office-bearers went for a dialogue with the police officers but law enforcement agency employees started baton-charge to disperse students as a result of which a few of them sustained injuries and 19 of them were taken into custody.

Jamaat spokesman Rehan Butt said the district administration and police had granted permission to organise the seminar about two weeks ago. But they cancelled permission due to some unknown reasons and heavy police force was deployed at the venue.

He claimed that 16 people, including teachers, suffered injuries. Lyallpur Town police officer Mahboob Aslam said police stopped the event as the organisers had no permission.

He said only three students were arrested but were released soon.

PROTEST CALL: The Islami Jamiat Talaba on Tuesday gave a call for protest demonstrations outside mosques against the governor for, what they said, promoting secularism in the province.

IJT acting divisional nazim Hamid Ali Muslim said at a press conference the Punjab governor was scheduled to visit the agriculture university on Dec 17 where he night announce the launching of music classes.

The IJT would distribute pamphlets with the help of school and college students against such un-Islamic steps. Letters would also be sent to ulema, politicians, social workers and section of society to motivate them against the spread of obscenity, he added.

IJT activists would resist and stage protest demonstration on the governor’s arrival.

IJT district nazim Abid Usman, city nazim Qaiser Naeem, PMC nazim Uzair Hasan Madni and agriculture university nazim Tahir Qureshi were also present.