Judicial commission into Rawalpindi tragedy goes underway

Published November 18, 2013
A rescue services worker on the premises of a destroyed mosque following sectarian clashes in Rawalpindi. -AFP Photo
A rescue services worker on the premises of a destroyed mosque following sectarian clashes in Rawalpindi. -AFP Photo

ISLAMABAD: A judicial commission headed by Lahore High Court’s Justice Mamoon Rashid Shaikh has begun a probe into the Rawalpindi tragedy in which nine people were killed and 44 others were injured during 10th Muharram clashes.

The judicial commission is expected to take testimonies of the witnesses and will examine the CCTV footage.

Meanwhile, a separate three-member inquiry committee has been constituted by the Punjab government to investigate the incident.

Violence erupted in Rawalpindi after participants of an Ashura procession clashed with seminary students in Raja Bazaar area on Friday.

FIRs were registered in four police stations of Rawalpindi including Pir Wahai, City, Bani and Ganjmandi.

Cases have also been registered against people who damaged public and private property.

City grapples for normalcy

On Monday, Rawalpindi struggled to return to normalcy as an uneasy calm prevailed. Section 144 of the CrPC is still imposed, prohibiting the assembly of five or more people in any area of the city.

Meanwhile, troops are still present in the city and aerial surveillance of sensitive areas is also being carried out.

Public and private businesses were opened on Monday but educational institutions remained closed. Markets opened and people were seen buying commodities/

Meanwhile, the Rawalpindi administration has instructed petrol pump owners not to sell petrol at higher rates.

Opinion

Editorial

‘Declaration of war’
Updated 14 Jun, 2025

‘Declaration of war’

Israel's provocative behaviour has, once again, brought the Middle East to the precipice of a full-blown war.
A mixed bag
14 Jun, 2025

A mixed bag

SINDH’S Rs3.45tr budget for the next fiscal year seeks to combine populism with provincial tax reforms while also...
Water-starved city
14 Jun, 2025

Water-starved city

IT is an injustice that finds few parallels. Karachi, home to a burgeoning population of over 20m and the primary...
Climate realities
Updated 13 Jun, 2025

Climate realities

Finance Minister says, "We are living climate change day in and day out”.
Minimum wages
Updated 13 Jun, 2025

Minimum wages

Foolish to expect toothless and corrupt provincial employees’ social security organisations to force wealthy employers to implement the minimum wage.
Iran attack fears
13 Jun, 2025

Iran attack fears

AS the fate of the US-Iran talks remains undecided, there are worrying signs that in case the negotiations collapse,...