Share this story!            

Mobs torch city in anger of Benazir’s death

* Destroy private and police vehicles, damage and burn down several transport buses
* Burn down election offices of PML-Q candidates Moonis Elahi and Abdul Aleem Khan
* Fight street battles with police – exchange stones and gunfire
* Burn down several houses
* Unconfirmed reports of four deaths

By Shahnawaz Khan

LAHORE: Workers of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and other protestors let loose on the city on Thursday night following the killing of party chairwoman Benazir Bhutto in Rawalpindi earlier in the day.

They fired shots in the air and burned many vehicles belonging to the administration and the election offices of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) candidates Moonis Elahi in Gulberg and Abdul Aleem Khan in Township Sector I. Protestors also tore off the PML-Q posters and banners in the entire city.

There were unconfirmed reports of four people having been killed in the rioting in Shahdara, Shalimar and Green Town. A complete blackout was observed in the city half an hour after Benazir’s assassination.

The mobs were small but furious, torching tyres, shops and houses. They also beat up many policemen and kidnapped several more in Nawankot. Authorities had to call in the Rangers and police personnel in reserve to control the situation, as the Lahore police was visibly distraught and had lost control.

The mobs did not let cars travel with their lights on and young PPP workers broke many streetlights that were on. Seeing this, the administration cut off electricity supply to many locations. Authorities also deployed riot police at all important locations.

All businesses and entertainment places, markets and shops were shut down immediately after the news of Benazir’s death had spread. Traffic was jammed for quite a long time, but thinned out to virtually nothing after that. Only protestors, the police and a few private vehicles were seen on the roads.

Rioting was the worst at Data Darbar Chowk, Minar-e-Pakistan Chowk, Shahdara and the Walled City. The police and protestors clashed thrice at Data Darbar Chowk and both sides threw stones and bottles at each other.

A large mob protested in Shahdara and they shouted slogans against the PML-Q and President Pervez Musharraf. They also burned tyres and vehicles and fired shots in the air. The police intervened and the two sides threw stones at each other. Some protestors also exchanged fire with the police.

A similar scene was witnessed in Mughalpura, with rioters burning down everything within reach and shooting at the police. They also burned down offices of a foreign cellular service provider. The police then came out in force and controlled the situation.

A furious mob burned down a vehicle of the National Highways and Motorways Police (NHMP) a few yards from NHMP Headquarters in Hanjerwal.

Similarly, a mob burned down a police jeep in Nawankot and kidnapped three policemen.

A mob burned down a bus in Green Town and three houses in Kot Lakhpat, Green Town and Firdous Market, Gulberg.

A mob entered the bus station of a foreign company at Kalma Chowk and tried to break its buses. However, the police reached the scene and dispersed the crowd by firing shots in the air.

A mob beat policemen unconscious in Ghaziabad Chungi and escaped. A mob also beat up policemen in North Cantonment.

A mob tried to burn down a hotel at Lakshmi Chowk, but the police dispersed them. Young PPP workers blocked all roads linking to Minar-e-Pakistan Chowk, burned tyres, shouted slogans, and damaged several private and government vehicles.

Mobs also damaged public and private properties across the city including Shadbagh and Multan Road.

Panic grips DHA and Cantonment: Panic gripped the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) and Cantonment as hordes of people swarmed streets after hearing the news of Benazir Bhutto’s assassination.

Demonstrators burned tyres and shouted the anti-government slogans. They also smashed the windows of cars and tore down the banners and posters of PML-Q.

Strong contingents of police were deployed on several roads to maintain ‘law and order’. In Sadar, Nishat Colony and on Tufail Road and Walton Road the police used batons to disperse the demonstrators. In these areas gunshots were also heard. Residents of these areas told Daily Times the police had fired in the air to disperse the people. Sadar police station house officer (SHO) Tauqeer Anjum said law and order situation in Sadar had worsened. He said the PPP workers had gathered on the roads. He said the police was trying to disperse the protesters.

On Guru Mangat Road, hundreds of angry demonstrators blocked the road and tore down the posters and banners of PML-Q. They shouted slogans against Musharraf and the Chaudhrys. A worse traffic jam was observed on the roads in Gulberg, DHA, Cantt and Walton.

The police closed markets; petrol pumps, fast food restaurants and clubs in the DHA. People belonging to every walk of life denounced the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. They held the government responsible for murdering Benazir Bhutto. They said they had sympathy for the Bhutto family, because it rendered sacrifices for democracy in Pakistan.

Model Town: The situation in most of Model Town area was precarious. Crowds mainly consisting of young men were seen tearing down and spitting on the election posters of Moonis Elahi. Such a scene was witnessed at the main Model Town Chowk that is situated at the entrance of Model Town Park.

Men were seen crying and beating their chests in anger. Cars were being stopped and checked for stickers and posters of the PML-Q. Those that did have them were smashed to bits with the occupants dragged out and beaten.

There were no police or Model Town Society personnel at the scene. The angry men were being controlled by a couple of area PPP leaders. These men had arrived in five Mitsubishi Pajeros with PPP flags hoisted on them.

The crowd seemed to be moving in the direction of Gulberg. This was about 45 minutes after it was reported that Benazir Bhutto had been killed in Rawalpindi.

Home | Lahore

Share this story!