August 20, 2008	Wednesday	Sha’aban 17, 1429

KARACHI, Aug 19: The participants of a procession staged a sit-in on M.A. Jinnah Road on Tuesday night to protest against the suicide bombing in Dera Ismail Khan earlier in the day that killed 30 people and wounded dozens others.

Organised by the Imamia Students Organization, the procession was taken out from Mehfil-i-Shah-i-Khurasan, and its participants staged a sit-in in front of Imambargah Ali Raza on M.A Jinnah Road.

The protesters chanted slogans against the government for its failure to curb what they described as systematic killings of the Shia community in the Kurram Agency and D.I. Khan.

Speaking at the rally, religious leaders criticized the government for its inaction. They demanded the immediate arrest of the culprits behind the bombing.

Describing the aim of Tuesday’s demonstration, Allama Aftab Jafri said they wanted to highlight the issue before the media which, he said, was largely quiet over the incident, and to convey the seriousness of what had been happening in the NWFP.

The Allama warned the government that if it failed to control the NWFP situation, the turmoil could spread to the rest of the country. Among others who spoke on the occasion were Maulana Jafar Raza Naqvi and Kausar Zaidi. Senator Abbas Kumaili also participated in the protest rally.

The protesters also burnt tyres and resorted to violence at Numaish. The protest caused a severe traffic jam on M.A Jinnah Road and the adjoining roads which were being used as alternative routes.