GUJRAT: Scores of activists of a sectarian outfit – Tehreek Labaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLY) – on Tuesday staged a sit-in on the premises of district administration complex here for registration of a blasphemy case against a senior doctor of a public hospital.

Another group of protesters also blocked the main GT Road near Deona Mandi, disrupting traffic on the national highway for about an hour. However, the protesters dispersed after headquarters Superintendent of Police (SP) Maaz Zafar held negotiations with them.

Those who staged a sit-in in front of the district administration complex mosque were led by Allama Khadim Hussain Rizvi, Pir Afzal Qadari and other senior leaders of the TLY. The sit-in participants were holding clubs, flags and placards inscribed with their demands

Mr Rizvi and Mr Qadari also addressed the participants in the sit-in, demanding the doctor accused of blasphemy be booked under section 295 C of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

The doctor has been accused by two students of paramedical school of the public hospital of passing some blasphemous remarks during a Quran learning programme a few days ago.

Aalmi Tanzeem-i-Ahle Sunnat, a sectarian outfit and a component of TLY, had filed an application with the District Police Officer (DPO) Jahanzaib Nazeer Khan for registration of a case against the doctor.

However, the DPO referred the matter to the core committee of the district peace committee for its opinion. The core committee that has representation of various sects so far held two marathon meetings during the last two days to sort out the issue.

Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa and the DPO were also present in these meetings.

According to sources, the core committee on Tuesday recorded the statements of the complainants (students) as well as the accused doctor.

The body had decided in its Monday’s meeting that until it took a decision on the issue, no protest would be held.

The sources said the TLY leaders staged the sit-in to pressurize the district peace committee that was holding the crucial meeting at that time.

Police had taken strict security measures during the sit-in which later ended after the TLY leaders were given assurances by the district administration that the matter would be decided as per the law.

Published in Dawn, November 1st, 2017