PESHAWAR: The Capital City Police authorities have ordered registration of cases against those who ransacked public and private properties and killed and wounded people during Friday’s protest rallies, an official told ‘The News’ on Saturday.
He said the police stations of Hashtnagri, Faqirabad, Kabuli, West Cantonment, East Cantonment, Tehkal and others would register first information reports (FIRs) in the incidents of killing of six persons, injuries to 57 others including 11 policemen, torching of four cinema houses and ransacking several other buildings and public and private properties.
An investigator said they were being approached by affected persons for lodging cases against those who led the protest rallies. However, he added, no FIR has so far been registered against any political leader.
He said those who torched and ransacked properties or opened fire would be identified from the available footage as well as other sources.
Over 100 protesters were arrested from different parts of the city for allegedly damaging the public and private properties and attacking the law-enforcers on Friday. They are kept in different lock-ups.
Protesters on Friday exchanged fire with the police on the University Road and Grand Trunk Road when the cops did not allow them to make way to the US Consulate General in the Cantonment area.
The exchange of fire and other incidents resulted in the death of six persons and injuries to 57 others, including policemen and protesters.
Those killed in the clashes included the driver of a private TV channel, Muhammad Amir. Others killed during the violent protests were identified as Asghar of Khazana village, Ibrar of Wahid Garhi, Abdul Qadeem of Fatu Abdur Rahima village, Rafaqat of Bhanamari locality in the city and Gulraiz of Tehkal Payan.
Among the 57 wounded persons were Faqirabad DSP Banaras Khan, 10 other policemen and five children.
The hide and seek between the police and protesters continued throughout Friday. As protesters continued ransacking government and private properties, the police baton-charged them and resorted to tear-gas shelling.
The protesters turned violent when several processions were taken out after the Friday prayers. They destroyed billboards, shutters of the shops, windowpanes of plazas, restaurants, hotels and later torched the Shabistan Cinema. They also torched and ransacked the Shama Cinema near the Bacha Khan Chowk. The Naz Cinema located close to the historic Masjid Mohabbat Khan was also attacked. Another procession in Saddar Bazaar torched the Capital Cinema on Arbab Road and damaged its screen and other properties.