ST, police clash at Data Darbar

LAHORE – Panic gripped the Data Darbar area due to aerial firing by police and Sunni Tehreek activists at 5:30pm on Sunday. Police arrested nine Sunni Tehreek activists including Shahid, Abdul Rasool and Mujahid for creating a law and order situation and firing into the air and at policemen.
But no case had been registered at the Lower Mall Police Station until filing of this report. According to sources, Sunni Tehreek leaders requested police not to file any case in this regard. According to police sources, Sunni Tehreek Central Executive Committee Member Shahid Ghauri was going back to his office near the Peer Makki Darbar along with his guards, who were carrying sophisticated weapons, when policemen stopped them for brandishing weapons.
Members of the religious outfit got infuriated and exchanged hot words with the policemen. During the scuffle, the policemen and guards beat each other and resorted to aerial firing. According to sources, Ghauri and his accomplices went to his office near the Peer Makki Darbar where activists of the Sunni Tehreek staged a protest, indulged in aerial firing and blocked roads by burning tyres.
The protestors started marching towards the Data Darbar and pelted stones at policemen, who had blocked all roads towards the shrine. The situation remained tense for around an hour during which both parties fired more than 500 to 600 shots into the air. The firing halted all activities at the shrine and local residents shifted to safer places. Due to the blockage of roads, a traffic jam was also seen.
According to police and rescue officials, no casualties were reported. Talking to journalists, City Division Superintendent of Police (SP) Dr Shahzad claimed that policemen were stopping a female beggar near the Data Darbar on which activists of the Sunni Tehreek started a scuffle and resorted to aerial firing. He said that policemen retaliated by firing in the air and baton-charged religious activists.
Shahzad said that police arrested six activists of the Sunni Tehreek during the scuffle. Talking to journalists, Ghauri, said that policemen tried to stop his vehicle on which Sunni Tehreek activists got infuriated which resulted in a scuffle. He accused police of resorting to aerial firing and baton charging religious activists.
Ghauri said that religious activists only pelted stones at policemen on which 16 Sunni Tehreek workers were arrested. He claimed that police injured 15 of their workers and said that protests will be held if any action was taken against the Sunni Tehreek.