Peshawar attack: Civil society presser to announce worldwide protests on Jan 16
Protests will be in solidarity with APS victims and will also demand arrest of Lal Masjid cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz
A man lights candles to mourn the victims from the Army Public School in Peshawar. PHOTO: REUTERS
Members of civil society are set to hold a press conference today to announce worldwide protests against terrorism on January 16 to mark the one month anniversary of the devastating Peshawar attack.
The protests will also be held in solidarity with the victims of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan's massacre at the Army Public School on December 16 in Peshawar, which killed 150 people, including 134 children. Further, they will demand the arrest of Lal Masjid cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz.
Following the attack, the government swiftly lifted the ban on death penalty and formed a National Action Plan committee.
However, the Lal Masjid cleric, open in his support of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, justified the action and refused to condemn the massacre.
Civil society members took to the streets and registered an FIR against Aziz at the Aabpara police station on December 19, leading to a threatening call from the spokesperson of a TTP faction to political activist Jibran Nasir who spearheaded the protests.
Further, a court in Islamabad on January 3 issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for the Lal Masjid cleric in the backdrop of the ongoing protests.
The decision comes against the backdrop of ongoing protests organised by civil society members
The cleric later submitted to a huge outcry from civil society and apologised for failing to unconditionally condemn the massacre but protests continue demanding his immediate arrest.
The protests will also be held in solidarity with the victims of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan's massacre at the Army Public School on December 16 in Peshawar, which killed 150 people, including 134 children. Further, they will demand the arrest of Lal Masjid cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz.
Following the attack, the government swiftly lifted the ban on death penalty and formed a National Action Plan committee.
However, the Lal Masjid cleric, open in his support of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, justified the action and refused to condemn the massacre.
Civil society members took to the streets and registered an FIR against Aziz at the Aabpara police station on December 19, leading to a threatening call from the spokesperson of a TTP faction to political activist Jibran Nasir who spearheaded the protests.
Further, a court in Islamabad on January 3 issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for the Lal Masjid cleric in the backdrop of the ongoing protests.
The decision comes against the backdrop of ongoing protests organised by civil society members
The cleric later submitted to a huge outcry from civil society and apologised for failing to unconditionally condemn the massacre but protests continue demanding his immediate arrest.