KOHAT: At a largely attended meeting in Kohat today [April 23] Muslim women demanded the immediate dissolution of Frontier Assembly and holding of fresh elections. Fifty Muslim League volunteers were arrested in Kohat … while picketing the courts. …[L]ife seemed at a standstill.

A procession led by Mian Fazal Shah was taken out at 3p.m. today. Shouting League and anti-Ministry slogans the processionists paraded [on] all major thoroughfares of the city. At Bazar Zargaran the police tried to stop the procession, but the people marched on. Fifteen Muslim League National Guards, who were leading the procession, were later on put under arrest. The Dy. Commissioner has issued a threat of collective fines and handbills here have been issued to the effect. Police repression is continuing unabated as usual. Over a thousand veiled Muslim ladies yesterday held anti-Ministry demonstrations before the Peshawar City Magistrate’s Court. The ladies also planted a flag on the court building. Later the women processionists assembled in a mass meeting [where they] condemned the Congress Ministry for suppressing civil liberties, enacting anti-social laws and for resorting to lathi charges, tear-gassing, firing and mass arrests.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2022