DERA GHAZI KHAN: Civil Lines police registered a case against the devotees who protested against the ban imposed by the government on dhamal on the Urs of Hazrat Syed Ahmed Sultan, revered as Sakhi Sarwar or Lakh Data, sources told Dawn.

On Saturday, dwellers of the ancient Sakhi Sarwar or Moqam town staged a protest in front of the offices of regional police officer and commissioner against what they called undue restriction on performing of centuries-old spiritual rituals such as drumbeating and performing dhamal within the shrine premises.

Owing to the ban, devotees have been forced to perform the dhamal outside the shrine amidst security concerns.

Civil Lines police registered a case against the nominated, Ramzan Qadir, Akhtar Hossain, Irfan Haider, Shahid Hossain,Yaseen, Dilbar, Safdar, Talib Hossain and Juma on charges of blocking a road disturbing public order and shouting slogans against the government.

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2018