Members of the Shia community staged a rally from the National Press Club to China Chowk in Islamabad on Tuesday, June 27, 2017 to protest against the "government apathy" over the Parachinar attack. PHOTO: Express
Members of the Shia community have been rallying in Islamabad against the twin bombings in Parachinar last week that killed 72 people, even continuing their protest on the first and second days of Eidul Fitr on Monday and Tuesday.
The first blast took place on June 23 around 5 in the evening in Turi Market as people were busy shopping for Eid, while the second explosion went off as rescuers and bystanders rushed to help the survivors of the first blast. As of Monday, the death toll had reached 72.
Parachinar wrecked by back-to-back blasts
However, neither senior government officials nor leaders of major political parties have visited Parachinar yet. Residents of the town in Kurram Agency and other members of the community have been holding a sit-in in Islamabad since the attacks to protest against government apathy and lack of coverage by media.
A sit-in was staged in Islamabad by the Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) outside the National Press Club and a protest rally was also organised from NPC to China Chowk.
https://twitter.com/Pcr_News/status/879670435931197440
https://twitter.com/IamAmmarYaser/status/879261595309944832
Prominent leaders including Syed Munir Hussain of the Pakistan People's Party, Allama Amin Shaheedi, the head of the Islamic Research Institute and former Capital Development Authority director Mustafa Kazmi participated in the protest.
Parachinar death toll tops 72
Over 200 members of the Shia community including MWM activists took to the streets carrying banners decrying the government’s neglect and demanding justice.
#Dharna seems for #Parachinar victims #BlueArea #Islamabad right now pic.twitter.com/Lb1TketuIN
— AJ 💙 (@Banisai) June 27, 2017
The protest outside National Press Club Islamabad has transformed into a sit-in. The govt given an ultimatum of 24 hours. #Parachinar pic.twitter.com/ln7pH1UQEB
— Ali Salman Alvi (@alisalmanalvi) June 26, 2017
Parachinar, a Shia-majority town in Kurram Agency, has been at the target of terrorists for years. Friday’s bombings were the third such attack in the city this year. A bombing in February and then again in March claimed more than 60 lives and left more than 250 people injured.
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