Activists of Pakhtunkhwa Civil Society Network hold a candlelight vigil at the Peshawar Press Club. PHOTO: MUHAMMAD IQBAL/EXPRESS
Multiple demonstrations were held across the province on Tuesday to condemn the bomb blast which ripped through a Hazara residential area in Quetta on February 16, killing over 80 people and injuring nearly 200 others.
Hundreds of people, including women and children, participated in two separate demonstrations held at Imamia Gate in front of Kotli Imam Hussain and Ballut Sharif, DI Khan city.
The demonstrators were carrying placards and banners denouncing the attack and demanded the government to accept the demands laid out by the Hazara community in Quetta.
Shia leaders addressed the participants and demanded exemplary punishment for those involved in the attacks.
A large number of police personnel were deployed and strict security measures were in place during both demonstrations. Protesters at Imamia Gate blocked the DIK-Bannu road for hours forcing commuters to use an alternative route.
Kohat
Ittehad Bain-ul-Muslimeen staged a demonstration in Sher Kot of Kohat.
The protest was led by local Shia leader Syed Qasim. A large number of people gathered in Kacha Pakha area and chanted slogans against the government for failing to protect the lives of innocent citizens.
People from Ustarzai, Sher Kot, Alizai and Hadizai participated and threatened to launch another massive protest if the demands of the bereaved families are not met. Sher Kot Road was blocked for traffic for almost six hours as a result.
Parachinar
Activists of the Tehreek-Hussaini staged a sit-in outside the Parachinar Press Club. They were joined by various religious and political organisations along with locals from the area.
Meanwhile, following successful negotiations with the government, the Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen, Unity Council of Quetta, Shia Ulema Council and All Pakistan Shia Action Committee called for an end to all nationwide protests and sit-ins condemning the Quetta attacks.
with additional reporting by our correspondents in Kohat and Parachinar
Published in The Express Tribune, February 20th, 2013.
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