Lahore

Protesters clog The Mall for hours Tuesday, October 28, 2008 By Our Correspondent LAHORE THE closure of The Mall for two hours due to a protest demonstration outside the Governor’s House caused a traffic mess in adjacent major roads in Lahore. The traffic in Lahore particularly in the areas of Jail Road, Ferozepur Road, Canal Road, Davis Road, Queens Road and other adjoining roads remained jammed for several hours because of the closure of The Mall. The traffic mess on these major roads caused inconvenience for the motorists as well as commuters. Long queues of vehicles stuck for several hours were witnessed at these major roads.Police sources stated that around 100 people riding tractor trolleys gathered at The Mall outside the Governor’s House along with females and raised slogans against the government and the police. The protestor who hailed from Mandi Faizabad, Sheikhupura district also staged a sit-in in front of the Governor’s House and blocked the traffic plying at The Mall. Immediately, a heavy contingent of police led by SP Civil Lines Operations Suhail Sukhera approached the spot and started negotiations with the protestors. Meanwhile, local MPA Mohsin Latif also reached the spot and participated in the negotiations. While the negotiations were going-on, the police blocked The Mall by placing barricades. Ashiq Hussain who was leading the protest informed the police that the toughs of the area had killed his close relative some time back and they had registered a FIR against five accused. He stated that they had provided strong evidences and proofs to the police that the accused were responsible for killing their relative. Despite having evidence and strong proofs, the local Investigation police after receiving heavy gratifications acquitted three accused from the FIR and were planning to acquit the remaining two accused, Ashiq Hussain told the SP. The protesters demanded the police to arrange their meeting either with the chief minister or with governor otherwise, they would not leave the spot until the time the accused were arrested. Later, Mohsin Latif and the SP assured the protesters that they would be given justice and arranged their meeting with DIG Sheikhupura Range in Qurban Lines Lahore. The police managed to take the protestors to the DIG Sheikhupura Range office who heard their grievances. The DIG directed for reopening of the investigation through an impartial officer and assured the victim party that they would b e provided with justice. He told them that if the accused nominated in the FIR were proved guilty, they must be given exemplary punishment. Following directions from DIG, the protestors dispersed. Immediately after the protesting people were taken to the DIG Sheikhupura Range office, the police removed barricades on The Mall and opened it for the traffic, which remained closed for at least two hours causing massive traffic mess. caption Residents of Mandi Faizabad stage a sit-in in front of the Governor’s House. —Photo by Mansoor Ahmed