PESHAWAR: Eleven persons received injuries when activists of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) clashed during a protest in Karak on Sunday as JUI-F held demonstrations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa against the killing of a party leader in Sukkur.

The workers of both the parties confronted each other at various points on highways and roads during their protest rallies. They exchanged hot words and chanted slogans and scuffled with each other.

The JUI-F workers blocked motorway, Karakoram Highway, Indus Highway, GT Road and other tributaries in various districts to protest killing of their party leader Dr Khalid Mehmood Soomro in Sukkur while the activists of PTI were going to Islamabad to attend the public meeting of their party there.

The confrontation was averted on several occasions as the motorcades of Chief Minister Pervez Khattak at Nowshera and caravans of other leaders from southern and northern districts came face to face with JUI-F protestors.

However, the workers of both the party pelted stones at each other in Karak. Five activists of JUI-F and six of PTI were injured in the incident.

In Peshawar, the JUI-F workers staged a sit-in on the motorway near toll plaza. They blocked the motorway by placing stones, however, situation in rest of the city remained peaceful. All the roads, bazaars and markets remained opened. No untoward incident was reported in Peshawar.

JUI-F workers block roads to protest killing of their leader while PTI activists take out processions to attend public meeting in Islamabad

The PTI rallies from Peshawar went to Islamabad through GT Road as the motorway was blocked by the workers of JUI-F.

In Karak, the activists of PTI and JUI-F pelted stones at each other in Tangori Sar area. The clash took place when PTI’s vehicular procession led by Malki Shah Mehmud Khan, adviser to chief minister, tried to travel through Indus Highway that was blocked by JUI-F workers, led by its district president Hafiz Abne Ameen.

After exchange of hot words and slogans, the enraged workers of both parties started pelting stones and resorted to firing in the airing. As a result, five workers of JUI-F and six activists of PTI got injuries in the clash. The injured workers were taken to district headquarters hospital. The windscreens of several vehicles were also smashed in the clash.

Police resorted to baton charge and firing of tears gas shells to disperse the workers of both the parties. On the intervention of district administration, the leaders of JUI-F and PTI held negotiations and resolved the issue amicably.

In Mansehra, the JUI-F workers blocked the Karakoram Highway for several hours, causing inconvenience to passengers and motorists.

The JUI-F activists assembled outside Gazikot Township at Karakoram Highway and blocked the highway.

DPO Ijaz Khan tried to convince the protesters to open the highway but in vain. The protesters demanded arrest of the killers of their leader. Former senator Hidaytullah Shah, former MPA Mufti Kifaitullah, Maulana Saeed Abdullah and Malik Naveed addressed the protesters and demanded arrest of the killers of Dr Soomro.

In Kohat, the JUI-F workers blocked Indus Highway at Zero Point to protest the murder of their leader Khalid Soomro.

The blockade caused problems to the passengers as vehicles remained stranded in traffic jam and long queues of vehicles were seen on both sides of the highway.

The vehicles of PTI workers from Lakki Marwat, Karak and Bannu, going to Islamabad, were diverted to Zera Mela bypass road.

In Chitral, The activists of JUI-F took out a protest rally and blocked Chitral-Peshawar Road at two points in Jughoor and Drosh areas. The rally was led by Qari Abdur Rahman Qureshi, district emir of JUI-F.

In Lakki Marwat, the JUI-F activists staged rallies across the district to lodge their protest against attacks on their leaders.

The protestors, led by JUI-F district chief Maulana Abdul Rahim, Maulana Ezazullah and Mufti Ghani, blocked Indus Highway at Tajazai, Manjiwala and Pezu points.

In Nowshera, the JUI-F workers blocked the main GT Road at Akkora Khattak to all kinds of vehicular traffic. The protesters were led by JUI-F district emir Mufti Sajjad, Swabi emir Attaul Haq Darwaish, Mufti Naeem and Waleed Akhtar.

The Rashakai Interchange was also blocked by JUI-F workers, led by MNA Maulana Qasim.

Addressing the protesters, JUI-F provincial chief Maulana Gul Naseeb termed the killing of Dr Khalid Soomro a conspiracy against ulema. He said that government failed to protect lives and properties of the people.

In Charsadda, the activists of JUI-F blocked the motorway and demanded early arrest of the killers of Khalid Soomro. The protesters were led by JUI-F district chief Maulana Mohammad Hashim Khan.

In Dera Ismail Khan, the workers of JUI-F staged a protest against attacks on their leaders. All shops and markets remained closed in Dera city.

The protesters, led by JUI-F district general secretary Ahmed Khan Kamrani and Haji Abdur Rauf, set the boards of PTI on fire near Kotli Imam Husain. They also torch tyres on New Bannu Chongi, Rescue 15 Chowk, Qureshi Mor and other squares to block the roads.

The baton-wielding protesters pelted stones on shops. The PTI workers also took to streets to resist the JUI-F activists, however, 11 hurt as JUI, PTI workers clash in Karak intervention of police thwarted clash between them.

In Batkhela, the JUI-F workers blocked the main GT Road for six hours to traffic.

They also put stones and torched tyres on the road. The protesters were led by Maulana Kifayatullah, Maulana Javed, Maulana Fazl Manan and Maulna Hameedullah Roghani.

The administration provided an alternative route to PTI workers, going to Islamabad, to avert their clash with JUI-F workers.

In Gilgit, the JUI-F workers staged a sit-in on Karakoram Highway in Diamer and held a rally in Gilgit city.

Addressing the protesters, JUI-F leaders Haji Shah Baig and Bashir Ahmed Qureshi condemned the assassination of Khalid Mehmood Soomro and termed it an international conspiracy against the country. They said that government failed to protect leaders of their party.

Published in Dawn, December 1st , 2014