BANNU: Police stopped on Monday Jamaat-i-Islami chief Syed Munawar Hassan and his companions from entering Bannu to address a rally.
 
Police also resorted to baton charge to disperse JI workers, who were gathered at Lakki Gate in Bannu city to take part in the rally. Eyewitnesses said that police also fired shots in the air.

Munawar Hassan and other leaders of JI were coming from Karak to Bannu to lead ‘Go America Go’ rally.

But they were stopped on Kashoo Bridge and not allowed to enter Bannu. Police had set up a checkpoint near Bannu Township to stop the entry of JI chief and his companions from entering the district.

Curfew was imposed in Bannu city keeping in view the deteriorating law and order situation. When Jamaat workers defied the curfew, police reached the venue and baton charged them.

Eyewitnesses said that police uprooted the stage, set up by JI activists in the city. JI workers scuffled with policemen but they were not allowed to take out rally. A huge contingent of police was deployed at the venue of proposed rally.

According to sources a number of workers suffered injuries in the baton charge. Some JI activists were also arrested for violating curfew and scuffling with policemen. Later, the Jamaat chief was sent back to Karak.

KARAK: Jamaat-i-Islami chief Syed Munawar Hasan has said that they would organise protest demonstrations against the baton charge and opening fire on party workers in Bannu on Monday.

He was addressing a hurriedly called press conference here after he and other party leaders were stopped from entering Bannu district. He was flanked by JI senior leader Sirajul Haq.

Munawar Hasan criticised mishandling of JI workers, saying that it was unbecoming for a democratic government to use of force against peaceful political activities. He said that Jamaat-i-Islami would hold demonstrations to protest the highhandedness of provincial government.

Earlier, addressing a rally in Karak city, Munawar Hasan said that people had rejected Kerry-Lugar Act with an overwhelming majority, but the ruling parties including PPP, ANP and JUI-F were toeing American policies.

‘The entire nation has stood against the conditions of bill and rejected other policies of the American government for the region,’ he said.

The JI chief said that the US occupation of Afghanistan had nothing to do with the war against terror. The war against terror was actually a war against the Muslim Ummah to control its resources, he added.