Protests, protests everywhere



ISLAMABAD/ RAWALPINDI  - The government’s apathy, indeed inability, towards Quetta chaos originated from the killings of Shia Muslims from the Hazara ethnic minority four days ago was denounced in strong words, amid warnings from Shiite religious scholars of march on Quetta if just demands of Yakjehti Council Quetta were not adhered to.
As the country mourns the unburied victims of Quetta incident, the activists of Majlis-e-Wahdatul Muslimeen, Imamia Student Organisation, leaders of Shia Ullema Council and Mili Yakjehti Council, right activists and civil society Sunday continued to register their strong protest in twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
Around 2,000 protesters including women and Children participated in a protest demonstration held here at Faizabad Interchange, near Express Highway. The protest started around 11:00am and continued till filing of this report.
While representatives of civil society and right activists also continued their sit-in near National Press Club at Sector F-6 demanding to government to take immediate steps to stop genocide of Hazaras.
Allama Syed Sajid Ali Naqvi, Quaid Millat-e-Jafria, in his message said if government remained fail to fulfil the demands of Yakjehti Council Quetta, the protests across the country would be geared up. He said prevailing law and order situation in Balochistan demands handing over of Quetta to Army to bring back normalcy in the area.
Secretary General of Shia Ullema Council Arif Hussain Wahidi on the occasion said if things remain unchanged and government remained fail to come up with acceptable solution to the situation than they will call Shia community to march on Quetta to show solidarity with Hazara community there.      
The protesters were carrying banners and placards inscribed with against killings in Quetta. Syed Mazhar Ali Shah, Secretary General of Tehreek Nafaz Fiqh-e-Jafariya addressing the gathering letters had been written to the President, Prime Minister, Chief Justice, Interior Minister asking them to accept the demands of the bereaved families of the Shuhada-e-Quetta immediately so that the bodies of Shuhada could be buried with honour and respect.
Any delay in accepting the same could prove extremely dangerously, he added. He demanded from the Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to take suomoto notice of the incidents of terrorism in Balochistan including the Alamdar Road incident and the government’s criminal silence on these incidents.
Meanwhile, the protesters expressed solidarity with Hazara community, who refused to burry the dead bodies of their near and dear ones killed in twin bombings.  The protesters accused chief minister Balochistan Nawab Aslam Khan Raisani for criminal negligence and demanded of the government to arrest him as he has failed to protect the lives of innocent people despite repeated targeted attacks for the last several months.
The protestors blocked Express Highway near Faizabad and torched tires, chanted slogans against the chief minister and the federal government, saying it was only due to incompetence and negligence of the authorities sitting at the helm of affairs.
Chanting slogans over the failure of the federal as well as the provincial government to protect the lives of people, they called for deployment of Army to control the deteriorating law and order situation in the city.
They lamented that Hazara community along with 87 dead bodies of their relatives are protesting but the federal government has not taken any solid initiative to find a solution to resolve the issue.

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