CHITRAL: An anti-terrorism court in Swat on Saturday sent on judicial remand to Haripur jail a deranged man, who is alleged to have made blasphemous remarks at a mosque here on Friday.

The accused was presented before the ATC judge amid tight security, sources said.

Meanwhile, educational institutions will reopen today (Monday) after the situation in Chitral city and nearby hamlets returned to normal on Sunday.

Commercial centres were reopened, while security forces removed the barricades on the roads connecting the city with the rest of the district, allowing the vehicular traffic to operate.

Tension escalated in the city and its outskirts when a deranged man allegedly uttered objectionable words in the district’s Shahi Masjid during Friday prayers. The man was later arrested by the police and taken to the local police station, which was stormed by a mob, seeking custody of the alleged blasphemer.

Chitral Deputy Commissioner Shahab Hamid Yousufzai told Dawn that schools and colleges would reopen today (Monday), after having been closed on Saturday following the incident. He said no protester came on the roads despite the removal of personnel of police and Chitral Scouts from the city areas.

People moved freely in the city while there was an increased number of tourists to picnic spots like the Kalash valleys, Toshi Shasha game reserve, Osama Warraich Public Park and Chitral Gol National Park.

Hundreds of picnic parties visited the Kagh Lusht plateau, where a four-day festival which was called off after continuing for two days in the aftermath of the protests, will be resumed shortly.

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2017