Condemnation: Targeted operation demanded against sectarian elements
Shia representative organisations organise protest on GT Road, demand arrest of Hussainia seminary attackers.
Supporters of the Imamia Rabta Council take to the streets in a protest against the attack on Hussainia Madrassah. PHOTO: PPI
PESHAWAR:
Various Shia representative organisations on Friday asked the government to initiate a targeted operation against sectarian and terrorist elements in the city.
Hundreds of protesters from Peshawar and other districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa organised a sit-in on GT Road demanding the government to take concrete actions and put an end to the increasing incidents of targeted killings of Shias. They also demanded arrest of the perpetrators of the suicide attack on the Hussainia Madrassah last Friday, which killed 15 people.
The protest was jointly organised by the Imamia Rabita Council (IRC), Majlis-e- Wahdatul-Muslimeen (MWM), Shia Ulema Council (SUC), Imamia Jirga (IJ) and Imamia Students Organisation (ISO).
The rally participants marched from Hussainia Madrassah to GT Road carrying placards condemning sectarianism and terrorism and asking for justice for the victims of sectarian violence.
The protesters also chanted slogans against the provincial government for failing to control target killing incidents.
A joint declaration was passed asking the government to initiate a targeted operation against sectarian elements and to announce shuhada package (financial aid for those declared martyrs) within three days for the families of the victims of the seminary attack.
IRC Provincial Convener Major (Retd) Hasnain Haider Kazmi addressed the participants and said despite the sect being repeatedly targeted the government and law enforcement agencies have failed to apprehend those responsible. He added none of the families of the victims were given financial compensation by the government.
Other speakers criticised the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government and lashed out at Information Minister Shaukat Yousafzai for not condemning sectarian attacks.
“It is time for the government to come up with a clear policy on sectarianism and to defeat terrorism,” said MWM provincial leader Allama Jahanzaib Hussain Jafri.
Ulema Wa Mashaikh Council Provincial President Maulana Muhammad Shoaib also participated in the demonstration. Highlighting the importance of unity among the Muslim Ummah in the face of contemporary challenges, Shoaib said there is no Shia-Sunni conflict and Muslims must not fall into the conspiracies of those who want to sabotage Muslim unity for their vested interests.
Police adopted tight security measures for the procession. Barriers were placed at Hashtnagri and Haji Camp on GT Road, blocking traffic for over an hour. Scores of ISO and MWM activists were also assigned security responsibilities to avert any untoward incidents.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 29th, 2013.
Various Shia representative organisations on Friday asked the government to initiate a targeted operation against sectarian and terrorist elements in the city.
Hundreds of protesters from Peshawar and other districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa organised a sit-in on GT Road demanding the government to take concrete actions and put an end to the increasing incidents of targeted killings of Shias. They also demanded arrest of the perpetrators of the suicide attack on the Hussainia Madrassah last Friday, which killed 15 people.
The protest was jointly organised by the Imamia Rabita Council (IRC), Majlis-e- Wahdatul-Muslimeen (MWM), Shia Ulema Council (SUC), Imamia Jirga (IJ) and Imamia Students Organisation (ISO).
The rally participants marched from Hussainia Madrassah to GT Road carrying placards condemning sectarianism and terrorism and asking for justice for the victims of sectarian violence.
The protesters also chanted slogans against the provincial government for failing to control target killing incidents.
A joint declaration was passed asking the government to initiate a targeted operation against sectarian elements and to announce shuhada package (financial aid for those declared martyrs) within three days for the families of the victims of the seminary attack.
IRC Provincial Convener Major (Retd) Hasnain Haider Kazmi addressed the participants and said despite the sect being repeatedly targeted the government and law enforcement agencies have failed to apprehend those responsible. He added none of the families of the victims were given financial compensation by the government.
Other speakers criticised the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government and lashed out at Information Minister Shaukat Yousafzai for not condemning sectarian attacks.
“It is time for the government to come up with a clear policy on sectarianism and to defeat terrorism,” said MWM provincial leader Allama Jahanzaib Hussain Jafri.
Ulema Wa Mashaikh Council Provincial President Maulana Muhammad Shoaib also participated in the demonstration. Highlighting the importance of unity among the Muslim Ummah in the face of contemporary challenges, Shoaib said there is no Shia-Sunni conflict and Muslims must not fall into the conspiracies of those who want to sabotage Muslim unity for their vested interests.
Police adopted tight security measures for the procession. Barriers were placed at Hashtnagri and Haji Camp on GT Road, blocking traffic for over an hour. Scores of ISO and MWM activists were also assigned security responsibilities to avert any untoward incidents.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 29th, 2013.