MARDAN, July 14: The Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Fazl) on Friday organised a demonstration at Baghdada to protest the killing of students in the Lal Masjid-Jamia Hafsa operation in Islamabad.

Addressing the protesters, MNA Maulana Qasim and MPA Israrul Haq criticised the government and said the issue could have been resolved through negotiations. But, they alleged, the government killed the students just to please the United States.

They said the government had committed a crime against its own people and warned that the rulers would have to pay a heavy price for their action.

The protesters chanted slogans against the government and demanded handing over of victims’ dead bodies to their families.

Meanwhile, the situation in Mardan is tense and the administration has beefed up security arrangements. Armed forces and Frontier Constabulary personnel have started patrolling and established a check post at Par Hoti area.

The District Police Officer has issued a directive to the officials concerned to provide arms to traffic policemen.

A large number of students of Jamia Hafsa and Jamia Fareedia belong to the rural areas of Mardan district.