PESHAWAR, Sept 8: Following complaints by residents, police arrested five men and two women during a raid on a building in the limits of Shah Qabool police station here early on Saturday.

A police official said that those arrested were identified as Imtiaz, Zainul Abideen, Baidar, Mohammad Izaz and Khan Mir, and two women. He claimed that Imtiaz was a government employee and leader of the group.

The official said that at least 50 elders of the area had complained against the accused who had been charged under 294, 4PO, and 11PO of Pakistan Penal Code. He said that the accused were drunk and danced for the entire night.

Meanwhile, speaking at a press conference at Peshawar Press Club on Saturday, a group of elders led by prayer leader Maulana Mohibur Rehman alleged that Mr Imtiaz was involved in criminal activities and demanded punishment for him.

“Though the court gave the accused to police on remand, we requested the judge to award them severe punishment,” Maulana said and added that the accused did not listen to their advice to stop disturbing residents in the neighbourhood. “Loud music, noise etc is not acceptable to the residents,” he said.

Flanked by elders, including Said Ghulam and Akhtar Munir, the prayer leader said that Imtiaz had been warning the residents against complaining to police.