Several police officers, including a senior officer, sustained injuries when a large crowd protesting the alleged desecration of the Holy Quran attacked the Khazana police station on Charsadda Road on Wednesday.
A police official reported that about 2,000 people stormed the station, demanding the handover of a man detained for allegedly desecrating the Holy Quran during a domestic altercation.
The crowd damaged the station’s main gate and threw stones at the building. Police responded with tear gas and warning shots to disperse the protesters.
Authorities are preparing another FIR against the attackers, while the accused individual was already arrested and charged with desecrating the Holy Quran.
The demonstration disrupted traffic on Charsadda Road, which links the provincial capital to the Charsadda district, causing significant inconvenience to commuters.
An FIR was filed against the accused, and an investigation is ongoing.
The protest caused a major roadblock on Charsadda Road, halting traffic as residents demanded the accused’s custody. Some protesters resorted to throwing stones at the police.
The protest subsided after police reassured the crowd of prompt legal proceedings against the accused.
The police highlighted their strategic response prevented any fatalities and vowed to pursue all legal avenues against the accused. They also noted that those involved in the violence would face legal action.