PARACHINAR: Hundreds of people, including women and children, staged sit-in in Parachinar during Eid days and on Thursday against the arrest of some elders, expulsion of the central mosque’s chief cleric and interference of the administration in their religious affairs.

The three-day protest was staged at the Mali Kali security checkpost, while women along with children arranged sit-in at the Punjabi Bazaar paralysing life in the town bordering Afghanistan.

Security forces cordoned off the area housing the administration offices, while bazaars remained closed and all entry points and roads to Parachinar were sealed.

Scores of protesters set up a camp in front of the office of the political agent.

Three-day protest paralyses life in Parachinar

They kept shouting slogans against the administration and in support of cleric Allama Irfani, who was expelled two months ago for creating unrest in the area by delivering provocative speeches.

The protesters also complained about the arrest of 30 elders of Turi-Bangash tribes, who have been languishing in central jail of Bannu for seven months.

The levies personnel fired gunshots in the air and teargas shells to disperse protesters.

However, protesters totaling around 20,000 remained peaceful and stayed put.

The administration tried in vain to convince them to disperse.

The administration had suspended office-bearers of Anjuman-i-Hussainia, handling all affairs including financial accounts of the Turi-Bangash tribes, while bank accounts in the name of Allama Irfani were also frozen.

Political agent Riaz Mehsud formed an interim body to resolve the disputes and streamline financial matters of the tribes, but to no avail.

Local residents complained the administration harassed supporters of Allama Irfani and was trying to appoint its own nominee as chief cleric of the central mosque to their frustration.

A local official said the administration had agreed to free 30 elders but was unwilling to allow Allama Irfani to enter the agency.

He said senior administration officials had reached Parachinar to resolve the matter.

Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2014