On Wednesday, a mob of around 2,000 people stormed the Khazana police station in Peshawar’s Charsadda Road area, demanding custody of a man detained for allegedly desecrating the Holy Quran during a domestic dispute. Police officials, including a senior officer, were injured as the protesters pelted stones and damaged the station’s main gate.
Police responded with tear gas and aerial firing to disperse the crowd. The incident caused the closure of Charsadda Road for several hours, disrupting traffic and causing inconvenience to commuters.
According to police, the alleged desecration of Quran occurred in the Riaz Ghari area under Khazana police jurisdiction. The accused was arrested shortly after the report and an FIR was registered. While investigations are ongoing, an additional FIR is being filed against the mob for their actions.
Several officers, including Superintendent of Police (Rural Division) Inam Jan, sustained injuries from stones thrown by protesters. They received first aid, and no fatalities were reported due to the police’s crowd-control measures.
Peshawar SSP (Operations) Kashif Zulfiqar led negotiations with local elders and religious leaders to defuse the situation. The protesters dispersed after assurances of swift legal proceedings against the accused.
Capital City Police Officer Qasim Ali Jan affirmed the department’s commitment to maintaining order and prosecuting those involved in the unrest. Reports indicated some protesters were injured, though no casualties were brought to the Lady Reading Hospital. Efforts to reach Rescue 1122 for comments were unsuccessful.
