GUJRAT: Gujranwala police on Sunday arrested at least five workers of the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), allegedly for resorting to sloganeering and provocation inside an international fast-food chain, as well as blocking a road near the city bus stand during a demo against Israel.

As per police, scores of the JI workers gathered on the GT Road and staged a protest demonstration against the Israeli atrocities being committed against the Palestinians in Gaza.

The protesters carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans against Israel also blocked the service road in front of an fast food outlet.

During the protest, five of the JI activists entered the restaurant and started inciting the customers present there to boycott the Israelis owned food items and products due to its aggression and massacre of Palestinians in Gaza.

On being called by the restaurant management, a police arrived there and arrested the five JI workers, identified as Aamir Waheed, Zunair Asad, Awais Neem, Arslan and Akash.

Later, Gujranwala Model Town police have registered a case against total 18 JI workers under sections 290, 291 and 431 of the Pakistan Penal Code on the report of a police official and started investigation.

Gujranwala JI Emir Mazhar Iqbal Randhawa condemned the arrests and the case against JI workers, claiming they violated no law, nor created any law and order situation and were just staging a peaceful demonstration against the Israeli atrocities in Gaza.

Published in Dawn, April 14th, 2025