Quetta carnage: Protests, rallies held across province

SWABI/ MANSEHRA/ PESHAWAR/ CHARSADDA/ TIMERGARA/ DI KHAN/ BATKHELA/ TAKHT BHAI: Civil society activists, lawyers and journalists across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa condemned the suicide attack in Quetta that claimed lives of more than 90 people and left scores injured.

Protests and rallies were held in different cities and districts of the province on Tuesday.

PHCBA condemns attack

The Peshawar High Court Bar Association (PHCBA) passed a unanimous resolution condemning the suicide blast and called it a barbaric act and an attack on humanity. The association, through the resolution, demanded the government form a judicial commission that could present its report within three months.

The participants demanded the Supreme Court chief justice and chief justices of high courts instruct authorities to pay compensation to victims equal to that given to bureaucrats. They also asked for a job quota for their children.

Meanwhile, Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel expressed solidarity with families of lawyers and journalists who lost their lives in the Quetta carnage.

Strike observed

Lawyers of superior and lower courts across the province, including those in Takht Bhai, Charsadda, Batkhela, Timergara, Swabi and DI Khan, observed a strike and boycotted court proceedings. They wore black armbands, while funeral prayers in absentia were also offered for the departed souls.

Paying homage

Social activists gathered outside Peshawar Press Club to protest against the Quetta incident and held a candlelight vigil to pay homage to the victims.

On the occasion, they said Balochistan had experienced numerous incidents of violence and target killings over the past 15 years. They said it was shocking and a matter of concern that terrorists targeted a hospital, killing innocent people. They blamed the government for not maintaining foolproof security and extended their support to the people of Balochistan.

While addressing the participants, civil society activist Qamar Naseem said, “We demand peace in a country that must remain multicultural, multi-religious and multilingual.”

Hazara journalists’ protest

Journalists across Hazara Division condemned the suicide attack in Quetta and expressed solidarity with families of the slain and injured media persons. On the occasion, they took out protest rallies. They were carrying placards and banners and demanded the government provide security to journalists. The journalists criticised the government over its failure to protect the lives of innocent people. They demanded a Shuhada package, equal to that given to martyrs of police and military personnel, be paid to families of the slain journalists.  

Published in The Express Tribune, August 10^th, 2016.