Lahore: A large number of people, including activists of religious parties, ransacked and set on fire a girls’ school in Lahore and clashed with police following reports that a question paper for a test had contained blasphemous references to the Prophet, police said on Thursday.
Activists of groups like the Jamaat-ud-Dawah and Islami Jamiat Talba, the students’ wing of the Jamaat-e-Islami, and parents of some students were among those who on Wednesday vandalised three buildings of the Farooqi Girls High School, located near the historic Data Darbar shrine.
Residents of Karim Park near Data Darbar began gathering outside the school on Wednesday morning following reports that its owner, Asim Farooqi, and teacher Arifa had committed blasphemy.
According to witnesses, the mob surrounded the three school buildings and forced their entry into the complex even after a large police contingent was deployed at the spot.
The protesters subsequently forced their entry into the buildings after police used teargas in an attempt to disperse them.
Police also registered a case against unidentified protesters for ransacking the school buildings. (PTI)