‘Dissident’ ulema rushed to hospital after eating halwa

ISLAMABAD: Nine clerics were hospitalised on Thursday after they ate ‘poisoned’ halwa. According to details, some clerics decided to boycott the Ulema and Mashaikh Conference, saying they did not endorse the government’s stance on terrorism, jihad, drone attacks and the Taliban. They had gathered at Abdul Ghafoor Haideri’s residence to discuss the conference. The guests were served the halwa when Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman Mufti Muneebur Rehman reached Haideri’s residence to take the “dissidents” into confidence over the draft declaration. All of them immediately fell sick, however, Mufti Muneeb left the premises and fell unconscious when he reached the conference. Meanwhile, according to hospital sources, the clerics are said to be in stable condition.