Christians across the country demonstrated against the violence that consumed more than seventy innocent lives, rallying for minorities’ protection. PHOTO: PPI
QUETTA/ PESHAWAR/ ISLAMABAD/ LAHORE/ KARACHI:
Indignant, and at places violent, protests erupted in many cities of the country as enraged people took to the streets following the brutal suicide attacks at the All Saints’ Church in Peshawar.
The Christians in Peshawar staged protests at the GT Road, blocking it for hours three times, intermittently. Staging a sit-in, the protesters put on the road the coffins of the victims, which were later removed on the instruction of the leaders of the community.
Angry mob chanted slogans against the provincial and federal governments, and hurled stones at vehicles on the road.
Another unruly mob attacked the Lady Reading Hospital (LRH), breaking the windowpanes of the emergency section.
In Karachi, the protesters blocked Shahrah-e-Faisal, Shahrah-e-Pakistan and University Road. They burnt tyres and blocked the traffic.
Unidentified persons threw stones on the passing vehicles. Massive traffic jams were observed in various localities. The protestors set two motorcycles on fire. Intense aerial firing was also reported.
The protestors clashed with the police who tried to disperse them and restore traffic. Over a dozen suspects were detained by the police for causing a law and order situation.
In Lahore, large number of protestors, carrying placards and banners, poured on the roads. They blocked the traffic and burnt tyres. Later, they stormed the central track of the metro service, and this forced the bus service to suspend operation.
In the twin cities of Rawalpindi-Islamabad, hundreds of people staged massive protests at different locations. They were holding banners and placards with inscriptions demanding arrest of the culprits.
In Quetta, the Masihi Qaumi Ittehad (MQI) members launched a protest at the main Kansi Road. They burnt tyres and blocked the traffic.
“We condemn this dastardly act in the strongest terms,” said Pakistan Catholic Bishops’ Conference (PCBC) President Archbishop Joseph Coutts in a statement, terming the attack“a shameful act of cowardice”.
Pakistan Christian Congress (PCC) President Dr Nazir S Bhatti expressed grave concern on not providing emergency medical aid to hundreds of children, women and men injured in the suicide bombing.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 23rd, 2013.
COMMENTS (8)
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You have to remember that the minority Christian communities in Muslim states act as a gauge to Muslim tolerance. The more these Christians are suppressed the more extreme Muslims are. When eventually all minority religions are extinguished from Muslim dominated states, then Muslim will turn on Muslim. Factions become volatile and in the end Pakistan will fall apart into anarchy. This is why Pakistan people must protect minority religions. Religions are like the color of the rainbow. You take away all except one and you are left with darkness. That day will come and there will be death to all. May God have mercy on all.
@Umer
Having read many of your comments on express tribune, I'd like to ask why you're so afraid of Punjab and Punjabi people? What's the reason for this phobia of yours? I bet when you go to sleep, you check under your bed for a Punjabi.
PS: Tribune either block his racist comments, or publish mine. Unless you yourselves have an agenda...
@Raj - USA: Prior to IK terrorism under US/Pakistan control reached unrepresented heights, but I am not aware of anybody resigning.
Christians should uunderstand that the state known as Pakistan has totally collapsed. Every community should make its own arrangements for security.
IK came on a promise that he will control terrorism in 90 days. He has not been able to keep up his promise. So, he should resign. He has been saying that if he is not able to keep up his promise, he would resign. He should do it now. He has been boasting that if he does not get what he wants he would not take the job and he is the only Captain who has resigned from his post as he did not get the team he wanted. Whatever be the case now, as he is not able to control terrorism in his province and additionally the terror level has reached unprecedented levels, he should resign. Even if he claims that he did not get what he asked for to control terrorism, he should still resign as be did when he refused to accept to become of Pakistan's cricket team.
Nothing going to change in Pak, life will go on... neither Extremist will be caught nor they will punished. all will condemn this but they will change their own mind set..
@Ch. Allah Daad: But but this anti-Christian stance is mostly present in Punjab. Remember Gojra, Shanti Nagar, Badami Bagh?
Every Pakistan should join with their Christian brothers in protests and force government to take strict and serious action against terrorists and their supporters.