NAROWAL: Eighteen people, three policemen among them, were injured in a clash between activists of religious parties and law enforcers here on Wednesday.

Activists of religious parties in Narowal and Bahawalpur took to the street and threatened administrations that they would take law into their hands to achieve their objective of release of their fellows.

The protesters of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) in Narowal turned violent while demanding the resignation of Law Minister Zahid Hamid and release of the workers who were arrested a few days ago. They threw inter-city traffic out of gear at Zafarwal Bypass and raised slogans.

Led by Pir Syed Shujaat Ahmad, hundreds of people reached there and clashed with police who had blocked the road to Interior Minister Ashan Iqbal ‘s house.

The protesters made the administrations of some schools and the Boys Degree College close them. As they tried to move towards the minister’s house, police resorted to teargas shelling and an ensuing clash left 18 people including three policemen injured. The policemen were hospitalised with serious injuries.

The district administration kept negotiating with the protesters and eventually released all those arrested.

In Bahawalpur, Saleh Muhammad Owaisi, Riaz Ahmad Owaisi, Jamaat Ali Shah and others hurled threats at the Bahawalpur DPO and district administration while leading a rally in solidarity with Islamabad’s sit-in that has been going on for more than three weeks.

The rally was taken out from Milad Chowk to DPO Chowk. The protesters raised slogans against the government and the PML-N for entrusting its office of central president to disqualified prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

The demonstrators also held placards and banners denouncing the government and the local administration for arresting their fellows.

The religious activists from Ahmedpur East, Yazman, Hasilpur and Qaimpur also participated in the rally.

Police had arrested 34 activists and registered cases against 80 others about two weeks ago for bringing out a rally at Karachi Mor.

The city’s traffic was thrown out of gear and people faced hardships while passing through the intersection.

Published in Dawn, November 23rd, 2017