A 15-year-old injured in Saturday’s clash between a mob and police in Multan died here on Sunday at a hospital.
Police said 50 people, believed to have set fire to an imam bargah in Chishtian on Saturday and triggering clashes, were arrested in raids across Multan and Bahawalnagar districts.
The deceased child, identified as Muhammad Waris of Manzoorabad Colony in Multan, had gone to Ghanta Ghar Square to purchase books. He was caught in police firing at the angry mob protesting against the Sunni community for allegedly setting fire to an alam on Ghanta Ghar Square. Army and Rangers personnel were called to stop the protesters.
More than 110 people, including police personnel, had been injured in the clashes that erupted in Multan and Bahawalnagar. A hospital, shop and some other buildings were burnt down. Police said 20 people were still hospitalised at Nishtar Hospital. Of these, five were in critical condition.
Multan Commissioner Ali Murtaza said the government had announced Rs500,000 for the family of the deceased and Rs75,000 for those who were injured.
He said Army and Rangers personnel were patrolling sensitive areas of the district. The situation had started to normalise, though several main markets in the city remained closed, he added.
Later on Sunday, the commissioner and Regional Police Officer (Multan Ranger) Muhammad Amin presided over a seminar at Darbar-i-Ghausia. The seminar aimed at discussing ways of bringing peace in the city. Religious scholars from all sects attended the seminar.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 18th, 2013.