A procession, led by some furniture workers, appeared on the road and blocked traffic at Rajao Chowk in protest against the publication of cartoons. They also burnt tyres and pelted stones on police when they were asked to disperse. At this, law enforcers resorted to baton-charge and also opened fire on protesters. As a result, Shahid of Thatti Mochian, Muhammad Shujaat of Thana City Road, Muhammad Mohsin of Mohallah Noorwala and Shahid of Shah Nawaz Colony sustained serious bullet wounds. They were shifted to Allied Hospital, Faisalabad, in serious condition.
Following the incident, the people from different areas also took to the streets.
On Sargodha Road, a large number of people blocked the highway by burning used tyres and also thrashed some policemen. Later, a heavy police contingent was called out to disperse the mob.
Jhang DPO Hamid Mukhtar Gondal also reached Chiniot while the army was also called out to take control of the situation. District Nazim Hameed Sultan and Naib Nazim Hassan Ali Qazi also held meetings with religious leaders and traders to calm down the situation.
Meanwhile, traders shut their business here throughout the day. Even shops in mohallahs and katchi abadis remained closed.
GUJRANWALA: At least 40 activists of religious parties were booked on Saturday in Qila Dedar Singh while police were conducting raids at their residences to arrest them for taking out a procession and damaging a foreign cell company tower.
Reports reaching here said that the procession was taken out to protest against the publication of blasphemous cartoons in European countries.
The protesters marched through various roads and also threw traffic out of gear after burning used tyres. Later, they intruded into the boundary wall of the tower and damaged badly its equipment. They also chanted slogans against the government and European countries.
While the cell company management lodged FIRs against them for damaging tower worth Rs20 million.
College teachers also observed a black day in Gujranwala boycotted classes for two hours on the call of the Punjab Professors and Lecturers Association (PPLA).
Wearing black armbands, they demanded that products of offending countries should be boycotted.
KASUR: Around 40 people were booked and 15 of them were arrested for indulging in violence here on Saturday.
Police said that rallies were being taken out from Kot Ahmad Khan which were led by Punjab minister Sardar Hassan Akhtar Moakal, tehsil naib nazim Haji Maqsood Sabir, tehsil nazim Naveed Hashim Rizvi, former tehsil nazim Malik Rasheed, MPA Ahmed Saeed and the Kasur DCO.
They said some 40 people interrupted the rally and tried to create law and order. Later, they said the police arrested 15 of them while the rest managed their escape. However, raids were being conducted for their arrest.
SIALKOT: A complete strike was also observed in Sambrial on Saturday.
A large number of people belonging to all walks of life took out a peaceful rally from Lorry Adda. After marching through main bazaars and roads, it terminated at Sambrial Morr.
The rally was led by AJK minister Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Markazi Anjuman Tajran president Shaikh Ghulam Qadir, Young Supreme Welfare Council president Shaikh Zulfiqar Ahmad, Jamaat Ahle Sunnat local amir Qari Muhammad Tahir and JI local amir Muhammad Ayub Anjum.
Meanwhile, a complete strike will be observed in Sialkot on Sunday (today) on the appeal of the Markazi Anjuman Tajran.
This was announced by Markazi Anjuman Tajran president Mehar Ghulam Mujtaba and secretary-general Ehsanul Haq Butt in a press conference here on Saturday.