'Desecration' sparks protests in Abbottabad, Haripur.

ABBOTTABAD/HARIPUR -- People came out on the roads in different parts of the Abbottabad city on Saturday and in Haripur on Sunday to protest alleged desecration of the Holy Quran by an undertrial prisoner in the Abbottabad jail.

Enraged people started coming onto the roads in the Abbottabad city as the news of the incident spread with the protesters smashing signboards and damaging government installations. The protests continued till Saturday night.

Inter-city transport was blocked at the entry and exit points of the city as protesters went on a rampage. All city bazaars were closed.

The situation remained normal on Sunday as the district administration had held negotiations with the protesters, including religious leaders, traders and activists of different groups. A 10-member committee was formed to probe the incident.

During the negotiations, the protesters' leaders demanded that Section 295-C be added to the FIR against the culprit, suspension of the jail superintendent, protection to the policemen who had noticed the criminal act and action against the policemen having provided copies of the Holy Quran to him.

To prevent further unrest, the accused was shifted to...