GUJRANWALA, Aug 18: Police arrested on Wednesday five activists of the outlawed Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan on the charge of delivering provocative speeches against the government at seminar at Qila Deedar Singh.

Qari Muhammad Qasim, Maulana Shah Nawaz Farooqi, Hafiz Ziaullah Awan, Qazi Husain Ahmad Madni and Mufti Kifaitullah were booked under the Anti-Terrorism Act. Reports said the former religious outfit organized a moot at Masjid Jhangvi where these scholars delivered provocative speeches against the government.

Meanwhile, the activists of the SSP and other religious groups protested the arrest of their colleagues and demanded their release. Otherwise, they said, they would launch strike against the government.

HEARING: The Anti-Terrorism Court No 2 continued on Wednesday hearing of Chianwali (Daska) church bomb blast case and recorded the statements of witnesses. Main accused Qari Muhammad Afzal was also present. The judge, Mirza Rafiuzzaman, adjourned the case till Aug 24.

SHOT DEAD: A man was shot dead while his brother and cousin were injured by robbers on resistance here on Wednesday near Tetley on Sheikhupura Road. Reports said Muhammad Akhter, his brother Muhammad Afzal and cousin Naseerullah were on their way to Abdullahpur village by a motorcycle.

Near the village, four outlaws intercepted them and tried to take away cash and the bike. But they put up resistance and overpowered one of them. In the meantime other bandits opened fire on them and got their accomplice freed. Akhter died on the spot while Afzal and Naseerullah were rushed to Lahore Mayo Hospital.

SHOW-CAUSE NOTICES: The city tehsil council on Wednesday issued show-cause notices to its 18 employees, including a sub-engineer, head clerk and an inspector, on charges of attending the office late.

City Nazim Babu Javed Ahmad received complaints that the council employees came to the office late, causing inconvenience to visitors. The TMA checked the attendance of employees and issued them notices.