Youhanabad blasts: Violent riots mar protest demonstration

Demonstrators prevent group of baton-wielding youngsters from disrupting peaceful protest’ in Multan .

BAHAWALPUR/ MULTAN/ FAISALABAD/ LAHORE:

Violent riots took place in the vicinity of Youhanabad all day on Monday as bands of baton-wielding men went on a rampage, attacking passers by and disrupting traffic on Ferozepur Road.   

The protestors damaged several cars on Ferozepur Road. A man was reported killed and four others injured when a woman trying to drive away from the attackers ran them over.

A 1,000 strong police contingent was deployed in the area. They fired tear-gas shells and water cannons to disperse the rioters. Rangers were also called in to ensure law and order.

The riots ended late in the evening following negotiations between protestors and the government. The government team was led by Operations DIG Haider Ashraf and CCPO Aslam Wains.

Violent incidents were also reported from demonstrations on Multan Road, Chungi Amar Sidhu, Bund Road and Ring Road.

A riot was prevented during a demonstration in Multan. The demonstrators, who had gathered on Abdali Road, prevented a group of youngsters wielding batons from causing damage to the traffic and property. They also refused to let the youngsters, residents of the nearby Razabad Colony, block the road for traffic.

Speakers at the demonstration said they had gathered to send out a message of peace and to express solidarity with the victims of the blasts. They condemned the government for its failure to counter terrorist attacks against minority communities in the country.

The Justice and Peace Project held a candle vigil at St Mary’s Cathedral at around 6pm. Bishop Leo Rodrick said requests by various political parties to hold joint demonstrations were rejected because they wanted to keep their protest apolitical.

Protests were also arranged by church and other non-government organisations in other districts of the province.

In Faisalabad, the Association of Women for Awareness and Motivation (AWAM), the Peace and Human Development (PHD) Foundation, and the REAT Human Rights Defenders Network got together at the Faisalabad Press Club to demonstrate solidarity with the blast victims.

The speakers demanded that no groups known to be involved in terrorist attacks in the name of religion should be spared in the implementation of the National Action Plan announced following the attack at a Peshawar school last December.

AWAM program manager Shazia George demanded that a council be established at the federal level to ensure that the constitutional rights of the minorities were upheld. She said the establishment of the council was mentioned in a Supreme Court of Pakistan judgement dated June 19, 2014.

AWAM director Nazia Sardar and PHD Foundation director Suneel Malik called upon the government to protect the life and property of minority communities. They demanded that training programmes be arranged for the police to counter terrorist attacks against minority communities.

Rights activist Shafiq Sharif condemned the judiciary for what he said was its failure to convict people known to be involved in terrorist attacks.

Manzoor Anthony and Naseem Anthony also spoke at the occasion.

In Rahim Yar Khan, protestors led by Pastor Kamran Shafqat, Tariq Gul and Christopher John marched from the Catholic Church to the Club Chowk where they staged a demonstration. Pastor Shafqat said Christian communities had lost confidence in the government and no longer looked towards it for security of person and property.

A protest was led by Pakistan Christian Care Party chairman Chaudhry Qamar Shehzad Gul at the T-Square in Mian Channu, a tehsil of Khanewal district.

The church announced a memorial service on Tuesday (today) for the victims.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 17^th, 2015.