Cases registered against protesters

MINGORA: The police on Monday registered cases against 13 persons for participating in protest rallies staged the previous day to demand removal of the security checkposts in Swat.

The cases against the participants of the protest rallies were registered at the Mingora and Khwazakhela police stations. The protests were staged at Mingora and Khwazakhela and demands were made for dismantling the roadside checkposts where people were harassed.

This was the first time that such protests were organized in Swat district, where a major military operation was launched in May 2009 against the Taliban militants and a large number of people were displaced. The Mingora Police registered cases against seven men while the Khwazakhela Police booked five persons.

Those nominated in the first information report filed at the Khwazakhela Police Station are Aizaz Ali, Ali Hussain, Sheheryar and Gul Zamin, all residents of Kabal tehsil, Asif of Charbagh and Atif of Barikot. The Mingora Police registered cases against Izhar Khan, Bacha Gul, Aimal Khan, Ahmad Shah and Latif Khan. The cases were registered under the Anti-Terrorism Act (7-ATA), section-189, 186, 124-A, 147 and 149.