Prayer leader among seven sent to two-day police remand over Friday violence

The administrative judge of the anti-terrorism courts on Saturday remanded seven suspects, including a prayer leader, in the police custody for two days in a case pertaining to a clash on Friday between a crowd and law enforcers in Liaquatabad on the issue of the Friday prayers.

The police presented prayer leader of Ghausia Masjid Rahim Dad Qadri, mosque committee member Sohail Baig and worshippers, Muhammad Salman Khadim, Muhammad Najam, Muhammad Abdullah, Kamran Qadri and Hamid Atari, before the judge to seek their remand.

The investigation officer contended that the suspects were arrested as a mob of 250 to 300 people attacked policemen after they tried to implement the government orders of restricting the Friday congregational prayers to prevent the spread of coronavirus pandemic.

The judge, sending the suspects on physical remand, sought the charge sheet from the police on the next hearing on Monday.

The incident had occurred in Liaquatabad No 7, in which a crowd attacked the police team that had come to the mosque after learning about the congregational prayers happening there. The mob damaged the police vehicle and forced the law enforcers to flee.

Later, police registered an FIR under the sections 269, 188, 186, 353, 324, 147, 148 and 149 of the Pakistan Penal Code read with the Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act on behalf of the state at the Liaquatabad police station.

It was reported that the prayer leader was heading the congregational prayers despite a ban imposed by the government from 12 noon to 3pm. A large number of people had gathered in the mosque to offer the Friday prayers.

According to the police, when the matter came into the knowledge of the local police, their team reached the mosque to arrest the prayer leader. The police alleged that the prayer leader incited the people to violence who attacked the police team. In a bid to save their lives, the police personnel fled the scene.

Later, a heavy contingent of police reached the site and arrested the prayer leader along with others, and registered a case against them on behalf of the state.

Several videos were also circulated on social media which showed the crowd attacking the police mobile vehicle and pelting some cops with stones who were running for their lives.

FIR criticised

The Karachi chief for the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) claimed on Saturday that the police had registered a baseless case against the Ghousia Masjid’s prayer leader and committee members as well as others. Allama Razi Hussaini also directed the party’s legal aid team to bail them out.

The government’s orders for congregational prayers are part of the lockdown that is in place to slow down the spread of covid-19.

Hussaini said the situation escalated after the police beat up worshippers, infuriating the public, who then reacted by attacking the police officials. He added that TLP workers rescued the law enforcers from the people.

The TLP leader has convened a meeting of the party’s city cabinet to discuss the situation. He demanded that the government withdraw the cases registered against the clerics who had violated the government’s lockdown orders. He said Ulema have always played their role in upholding the supremacy of Islam. He added that the Ulema will continue to do so regardless of the FIRs or the fear of incarceration.