PAKISTAN

ABBOTABAD: The number of deaths in today’s violent clashes between police and protestors against the renaming of NWFP as Khyber-Pakhtukhaw rose to seven here on Monday.

While more than 100 people were injured, most of them seriously, including Sardar Yaqoob, the former Deputy Speaker of National Assembly.

The series of protest demonstrations against the renaming of NWFP took a violent turn in Abbotabad, where protestors set ablaze a police station, dozens of vehicles, including police mobiles.

Besides, Mirpur and Cantonment Police Stations also came under attack by the violent protestors. Emergency was declared in the D.H.Q after the protests.

Apart from Abbotabad, people staged protest in Haripur, Mansehra, Hawelian and other cities. Fierce clashes erupted between police and protestors in Fowara Chowk, Mandian, Ayub Medical Complex and other parts of Abbotabad.

The police used tear gas and baton-charge to disperse the protestors. In reaction, they surrounded the Cantonment Police Station and later set it on fire.

The protestors also called for sacking of Hazara Commissioner, D.IG, DCO and DPO.

Murree Road and Shahra-e-Kashmir were still closed for all kinds of traffic.

Tehrik Hazara Province leaders said that this protest would soon turn into a civil disobedience movement.

A heavy contingent of police has been deployed in the restive city.