ISLAMABAD, May 24 (KUNA) -- Over a week-long heated standoff with heavy show of strength from both sides, has ended between students of a religious seminary and the capital police force with the announcement on Thursday to release two held police officers.
We are releasing the two held policemen on humanitarian ground and at the request of their families, announced Abdul Rashid Ghazi, the Administrator of Lal (Red) Mosque and it attached Madrassahs Jamia Fareedia for male and Jamia Hafsa for female students.
He told newsmen that the two policemen, ASI and Constable, will be handed over to the authorities on Friday after prayer.
Students of Jamia Fareedia Madrassah last Friday kidnapped four policemen and demanded the government to release their 11 colleagues in exchange, arrested allegedly for burning music and video CDs as a part of their anti-vice campaign in the capital.
Two policemen were released last Saturday when the Court granted bale to six detained students. Abdul Rashid Ghazi later said the government has released 11 of the total 30 detained students.
Since the kidnapping, heavily-armed Rangers, elite force and reserve police had been called in from Punjab province, giving an impression that a massive crackdown will be launched soon.
In their show of strength, dozens of masked Madrassah students had also prepared trenches and hideouts.
Taliban-supporting students and clerics of Lal Mosque, have undertaken a series of provocative stunts since January to press for various demands including enforcement of Shariah in the country.
Both male and female students of the Mosque and Jamia Hafsa and Jamia Fareedia Madrassahs have recently launched an anti-vice patrols, targeting music and video shops and lady drivers.
The Lal Mosque has released two held policemen, Assistant Superintendent Inspector (ASI) and a Constable, Abdul Rashid Ghazi, the Mosque administrator told newsmen at a press conference.
He shrugged off the impression that the decision, to release two policemen without their demands being met, was taken under any pressure.
ASI Aurangzeb and Constable Raja Jahangir told newsmen that they were well-treated and allowed to talk to anyone they liked. (pick up previous).
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