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       PESHAWAR: A local court on Wednesday ordered three days of police custody for a suspect who had been arrested the day before on charges of sacrilege of the Holy Quran in the Khazana district.

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       A day earlier, demonstrators in the same neighbourhood had attacked a police station in an attempt to capture the suspect, Humayun Khan, who was brought before the court of the judicial judge by the local police under strict security.

       The investigation officer informed the court that the suspect had allegedly desecrated the Holy Quran during a family brawl at his residence.

       He stated that the police needed his physical custody for further investigating the matter. The court allowed his three days’ physical custody to the police.

       The suspect was charged in an FIR registered at Khazana police station on Tuesday under section 295-B (desecration of the Holy Quran) of the Pakistan Penal Code and section 15 of the Arms Act.

       Meanwhile, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) also remanded seven persons, arrested on charges of attacking and trying to put to torch the police station after the occurrence, into custody of police for three days.

       The investigation officer informed the court that after the local police had arrested a suspect accused of desecration of the Holy Quran, an unruly mob had attacked the police station demanding the handing over of the suspect to them.

       He stated that the protesters had blocked the Peshawar –Charsadda road for many hours and had pelted stones on the station’s building and policemen which had resulted in injuries to many police officials.

       Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2024