Up in arms: Thousands take to the streets across Punjab
Voting suspended at two polling stations during the NA-137 bypoll in Nankana Sahib for several hours .
Christian community stages a demonstration in Faisalabad to express solidarity with Youhanabad residents. PHOTO: INP
BAHAWALPUR/MULTAN/FAISALABAD/SARGODHA/LAHORE:
Scores of people hailing from the Christian community came together in various cities across the province on Sunday to protest against twin suicide attacks on two churches in the city’s Youhanabad area.
Droves of Christians came together at a protest demonstration against the attacks at the Airport and Ahmadpur Roads. The demonstrators closed the roads for traffic. They condemned the attacks and asked the federal and the provincial governments to take action against the perpetrators of the violence.
Yusuf Masih, a resident of Islami Colony, said the attacks had demonstrated that terrorism had no religion. He said those involved in acts of terrorism had no conscience. Masih said the demonstration had been organised to condemn the heinous attacks.
Scores of people staged protest demonstrations against the attacks across Faisalabad. People came together at Hajveri Town, Millat Chowk, Jamia Chishtia Chowk, Gaitanwala Chowk, Akbar Chowk, Batala Colony, Warispura, Eidgah Road, Sheikhupura Road, Sargodha Road, Model Town and Christian Town to demonstrate against the attacks.
The demonstrators closed nearly every thoroughfare in the city for traffic. Some protesters also staged a sit-in at the City District Government Secretariat. The demonstrators raised slogans against the attacks and demanded action to be taken against terrorist outfits. They also called for all terrorists and their sympathisers to be hung publicly.
Jammu Masih, one of the demonstrators, said the fact that religious minorities especially Christians were facing threats to their safety and security was deplorable. “The Christian community has been playing a prominent role in national development. This is what the community has gotten in return for services rendered,” Masih said. He said terrorism had been flourishing in the nation as its patrons were sitting in the corridors of powers. Masih said the Sharif brothers should guarantee the safety and security of minorities if they want the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to remain in office. Jantu Masih, another protester, said they should prepare themselves to face the music if they failed on this account.
Several churches, non-governmental and civil society organisations organisations held protest demonstrations across Multan following the attacks. People came together at Razaabad Square, Police Lines Square, Nawan Shehr Square, Chowk Rasheedabad, the Ghanta Ghar, Gaddafi Square, Tariqabad Square and Chungi Number Nine to demonstrate against the violence.
Church of Pakistan Multan Bishop Leo Rodrick Paul said a couple from Stunzabad, which had relocated to Youhanabad for work, was among those killed in the attacks. He said funeral prayers for the deceased would be held on Monday (today). Paul said the church had planned a solidarity demonstration against the attack
All Pakistan Minorities’ Alliance chairman Tahir Naveed Chaudhry said the government had failed to protect the Christian community. He was speaking at a protest demonstration in Sargodha. Those present on the occasion raised slogans against the government. The demonstrators demanded that those involved in attacking minorities should be dealt with an iron hand. They said the government ought to make special arrangements to secure minorities’ worship places.
Voting was suspended at two polling stations in the by-elections for NA-137, Nankana Sahib following a demonstration against the attacks. Raza Ahmad, a bystander, said people had to go to other polling stations in the constituency to cast their ballots. He said voting had resumed after some time. He said the protesters had also blocked the Shorkot Road for traffic. No untoward incident was reported.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 16th, 2015.
Scores of people hailing from the Christian community came together in various cities across the province on Sunday to protest against twin suicide attacks on two churches in the city’s Youhanabad area.
Droves of Christians came together at a protest demonstration against the attacks at the Airport and Ahmadpur Roads. The demonstrators closed the roads for traffic. They condemned the attacks and asked the federal and the provincial governments to take action against the perpetrators of the violence.
Yusuf Masih, a resident of Islami Colony, said the attacks had demonstrated that terrorism had no religion. He said those involved in acts of terrorism had no conscience. Masih said the demonstration had been organised to condemn the heinous attacks.
Scores of people staged protest demonstrations against the attacks across Faisalabad. People came together at Hajveri Town, Millat Chowk, Jamia Chishtia Chowk, Gaitanwala Chowk, Akbar Chowk, Batala Colony, Warispura, Eidgah Road, Sheikhupura Road, Sargodha Road, Model Town and Christian Town to demonstrate against the attacks.
The demonstrators closed nearly every thoroughfare in the city for traffic. Some protesters also staged a sit-in at the City District Government Secretariat. The demonstrators raised slogans against the attacks and demanded action to be taken against terrorist outfits. They also called for all terrorists and their sympathisers to be hung publicly.
Jammu Masih, one of the demonstrators, said the fact that religious minorities especially Christians were facing threats to their safety and security was deplorable. “The Christian community has been playing a prominent role in national development. This is what the community has gotten in return for services rendered,” Masih said. He said terrorism had been flourishing in the nation as its patrons were sitting in the corridors of powers. Masih said the Sharif brothers should guarantee the safety and security of minorities if they want the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to remain in office. Jantu Masih, another protester, said they should prepare themselves to face the music if they failed on this account.
Several churches, non-governmental and civil society organisations organisations held protest demonstrations across Multan following the attacks. People came together at Razaabad Square, Police Lines Square, Nawan Shehr Square, Chowk Rasheedabad, the Ghanta Ghar, Gaddafi Square, Tariqabad Square and Chungi Number Nine to demonstrate against the violence.
Church of Pakistan Multan Bishop Leo Rodrick Paul said a couple from Stunzabad, which had relocated to Youhanabad for work, was among those killed in the attacks. He said funeral prayers for the deceased would be held on Monday (today). Paul said the church had planned a solidarity demonstration against the attack
All Pakistan Minorities’ Alliance chairman Tahir Naveed Chaudhry said the government had failed to protect the Christian community. He was speaking at a protest demonstration in Sargodha. Those present on the occasion raised slogans against the government. The demonstrators demanded that those involved in attacking minorities should be dealt with an iron hand. They said the government ought to make special arrangements to secure minorities’ worship places.
Voting was suspended at two polling stations in the by-elections for NA-137, Nankana Sahib following a demonstration against the attacks. Raza Ahmad, a bystander, said people had to go to other polling stations in the constituency to cast their ballots. He said voting had resumed after some time. He said the protesters had also blocked the Shorkot Road for traffic. No untoward incident was reported.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 16th, 2015.