ASWJ protestors protest in Karachi, Islamabad, block roads, scuffle with law enforcers
A local leader from the banned Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) was killed in a targeted attack in Rawalpindi on Sunday, while the central president of the party, Aurangzeb Farooqi, escaped a bid on his life in Karachi late on Saturday.
ASWJ Rawalpindi spokesperson Maulana Mazhar Siddiqui was targeted on Sunday near Pirwadhai Mor, within the precincts of Rawalpindi’s Golra Police Station.
While ASWJ’s Central President Aurangzeb Farooqi was targeted by unidentified gunmen near the QuaidabadBridge area in Karachi on Saturday night. Farooqi escaped unhurt in the attack while three of his bodyguards sustained injuries, according to a party spokesperson.
A large number of police and Rangers personnel reached the spot and cordoned off the area as a probe into the incident was initiated.
SP Rao Anwar said that Farooqi’s vehicle was travelling from Quaidabad to Nagan Chowrangi when it was fired upon by gunmen who were positioned on top of Quaidabad Bridge. He added that no loss of life was reported in the incident.
It is pertinent to mention here that at least six people, including four police officers, a personal security guard, and Farooqi’s driver, were killed when gunmen attacked them on Rashid Minhas Road on December 25, 2012.
While Farooqi was able to come out of the ordeal unharmed, the same was not true for Maulana Mazhar Siddiqui who was shot dead by an unidentified gunman, near Islamabad, in an apparent sectarian-motivated attack, according to the police.
Siddiqui came under attack when he was travelling in a rickshaw with two activists near the main bus station in the Pir Wadhai area, an ASWJ central spokesperson said. He died at the scene while the other two activists, Muhammad Ibrahim and Shir Dil, were injured. The two injured were shifted to hospital in Islamabad.
The police said that two motorcyclists had fired at the ASWJ members. A police officer said that the police had informed the religious leader about a possible threat to his life.
“We had told Siddiqui to share information about his whereabouts with the police before leaving home, but he had not informed the police,” a police representative informed the media.
ASWJ SECURITY PULLED BY GOVT, BANNED PARTY PROTESTS:
Farooqi informed that the government had withdrawn his security a few days ago, adding that the attempt on his life was a conspiracy against the peace of the metropolis and country.
The banned ASWJ chief narrated the incident, “We were coming from a program in Korangi’s Zia Colony when some miscreants opened fire at us from the bridge opposite Swedish College. They may have been on motorbikes. Their gunshots hit our vehicle. The tire burst and our vehicle stopped by the roadside.” However, the attackers took to heels when his security guards returned fire, he added.
So far, no group has claimed responsibility for either of the attacks. There is speculation that the attacks were carried out by rival sectarian groups, which are also banned. However, ASWJ has started a fresh round of demonstrations and is disrupting regular life for civilians to protest the attacks.
Meanwhile, following the attack on Farooqi, different people resorted to aerial firing triggering panic among the local residents. Later, while talking to media, Farooqi directed his workers to stay peaceful, adding that he was not hurt in the incident and only his vehicle was damaged in the attack.
Both Karachi and Islamabad were strangled with protests. Members from the banned outfit protested against the attacks outside the Supreme Court were they scuffled with police officers and as a result were subjected to baton-charge and tear gas.
Major roads were blocked in Karachi and massive traffic jams were observed throughout the city as members of the ASWJ protested in the city.
