KARACHI, May 9: Speakers addressing participants of a procession, emerging from the Mehfil Shah-i-Khurasan, near Purani Numaish, on Sunday afternoon demanded that instead of paying compensation for the casualties in the Hyderi mosque blast
, the government should do justice with the bereaved.
They were of the view that the blast was an attempt to divert the Ummah's attention from the atrocities meted out to Iraqi people by the United States. They criticized the government for its undue favour to the US. Had the government taken stern action against the perpetrators of the Quetta carnage, the Hyderi mosque tragedy would not have happened, they said.
Citing the unity between Shia and Sunni sects, they said it showed that those hatching a conspiracy to divide Muslims through such terrorist acts could not succeed in their nefarious designs.
The speeches were made by various leaders during a brief stopover of the procession at Sindh Assembly building and the culminating point, in front of the Karachi Press Club.
The protesters marched through the M. A. Jinnah Road and after crossing the Tibet Centre, Radio Pakistan and Urdu Bazaar points, they turned to Regal Chowk on way to the Sindh Assembly building. The procession culminated at the Karachi Press Club.
Heavy contingents of police were deployed at the Imambargah Mehfil Shah-i-Khurasan, around the KPC and other religious and public places, besides along the entire route of the procession. Extraordinary security measures, including deployment of law-enforcement personnel, were taken to guard the Governor's House on the Aiwan-i-Saddar Road.
Vehicular traffic was not allowed to ply or cross the route of the procession as all the roads and streets leading to it were sealed off and the roads falling in the route were cordoned off.
The participants of the procession, most of them youths, chanted slogans against the government and police for their failure in averting and fighting off terrorism. They forcefully demanded arrest of the culprits of the Hyderi mosque blast.
The protesters condemned the US and Israel for hatching conspiracies aimed at creating a gulf between Muslim sects. Some of them were holding banners inscribed with slogans: 'Justice, not compensation, needed' and 'America: killer of Shias and Sunnis'.
Later, the protesters dispersed peacefully. Meanwhile, Soyem for the blast victims was observed at their residences on Sunday. Soyem for all of them was held at the Khairul Amal mosque in Ancholi.
To facilitate the procession and ensure security, police had cordoned off the M. A. Jinnah Road since noon. No vehicle was allowed to move towards this vital artery, as well as Shahrah-i-Quaideen, Abdullah Haroon Road and the major thoroughfares leading to the procession route.
Heavy and long vehicles were parked in the middle of the roads at entry/exit points to restrict free movement of traffic. On the Aiwan-i-Saddar Road, 40-ft-long containers were placed to seal off both the ends. Police did not allow even pedestrians to walk through it.
Much of the public transport and private vehicles remained off the road during the day. Road blockade by police caused immense hardship to people and many of them had to walk several kilometres to reach their destination.
ANP CONDEMNATION: The Sindh chapter of the Awami National Party has condemned the targeting of places of worship, terming the terrorist act of targeting worshippers a conspiracy against humanity.
This was said by the president of ANP, SIndh, Shahi Syed, during a condolence meeting held here at the Bacha Khan centre on Sunday. The meeting was held for victims of the Hyderi Mosque tragedy and the ensuing violent reaction. Condemning the acts of destroying private and public property, ANP Sindh's president Shahi Syed said it was a conspiracy sabotage the city's economy.
