MANSEHRA, Aug 24: Both Sunni and Shia ulema have termed the Babusar Top tragedy a conspiracy to create law and order situation in Gilgit-Baltistan and Hazara division by pitching people of both sects against each other.

The ulema were attending a meeting organised by the district administration here on Friday.

“After preliminary investigation into the tragedy it has been proved that it was a terrorist attack which was given sectarian colour to create law and order situation in Hazara and Gilgit-Baltistan, as 19 people from both sects were killed in the tragedy,” said district coordination officer Amber Ali Khan during the meeting.

Prominent among those who attended the meeting included district police officer Sher Akbar, Sheraz Mehmood, Maulana Qazi Khalil, Syed Abid Hussain, Maulana Qudratullah Qadri, Maulana Rafiqur Rehman and Maulana Nazir Hazarvi.

The ulema and scholars said on the occasion that Babusar Top tragedy was not a sectarian issue, but a terrorist attack in which the people from both sects were killed. They said that a Muslim could not even think of such brutality and those involved should be taken to task.

The DCO told the participants that terrorists used the land of Mansehra to accomplish their task at Babusar Top where no telecommunication system existed.

He stressed upon the scholars from both sects to work for harmony and brotherhood so that conspiracies against the country could be thwarted.

RAPE CASE: District and sessions judge, Mansehra, Syed Rafique Shah has extended restriction on meeting of police and parents with the rape victim till August 27.

The district bar association had moved the court seeking extension in restriction on meeting of parents and police officials with the victim girl at Darul Aman in Abbottabad.

The victim had alleged in her statement before the local court earlier this month that policemen raped her at City and Kaghan police stations.