A nation’s conscience: ‘Remember all victims to right all wrongs’

Demonstrations, die-ins mark first APS attack anniversary in City

LAHORE:

A number of activists marked the first anniversary of the tragic events of December 16 with demonstrations and vigils. Some of them lit candles and sang hymns. Others called out for stronger government action for implementation of the National Action Plan, especially revision of curricula and action against hate speech.

Members of the Democratic Students Alliance staged a die-in around 10 members who lay on the ground, imitating the dead. Rose petals were strewn on top.

One after another, they would recite verses from Faiz Ahmad Faiz’s poem Aaj Bazaar Mein Pa-Ba Joulaan Chalo.’

The students, mostly from Lahore University of Management Sciences and Government College University, said the demonstration was dedicated not only to who had lost their lives on December 16 but also those before and after them.

“The brutality of the attack on the APS children invoked horror and a sense of urgency,” said Ramis Sohail. He said they were also protesting civilian deaths in military operations.

“Governments and terrorists have made it difficult for people to function freely,” he said. “Citizens are falling victim to the war on Baloch nationalists. Those deaths should be remembered as well,” he said.

Fahad Mahsud, a recent graduate from the LUMS, said he came from Waziristan.

“There is death everywhere. A military operation has been going on in Balochistan for more than a decade but no one seems worried about the deaths there.”

Mehsud said silence on the innocent lives lost in Balochistan was criminal.

The organisation issued a list of attacks on religious minorities in the country and questioned the effectiveness of the National Action Plan.

“After the APS attack, the government said they would make sure that no more innocent lives were lost but they have failed to fulfil the promise,” said Zahid Ali, also a member of DSA. “We stand here to represent all bodies, be they Sunni, Shia, Christian, Hazara, Baloch and Pakhtun,” he said.

At Liberty Chowk, groups from civil society organisations came together for a vigil in the evening.

Saeeda Deep, head of the Institute of Peace and Secular Studies, said the tragedy of December 16 could never be erased from nation’s memory. “We stand here on 16th of every month to protest,” she said, adding that the demonstration should serve as a reminder that a lot still needed to be done.

She said the government had failed to curb hate speech. “A minute’s walk from here at Hafeez Centre a huge poster has been put up against Ahmadis,” she said.

Student wings of some political parties too staged demonstrations

Activists of Peoples Student Federation, student wing of the Pakistan People’s Party, and the Insaf Students Federation, the student wing of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf held rallies across the city that culminated at Liberty Roundabout.

The PSF rally had started from the PPP’s office in Faisal Town and the ISF from Hussain Chowk.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 17^th, 2015.