HYDERABAD: Activists of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and members of civil society organisations took out a rally in protest against the Larkana incident and demanded that the government ensure protection of life and property of minorities in the country.

They marched from the old campus of Sindh University to the local press club on Monday while shouting slogans: “No more extremism! No more violence! Zero tolerance against fundamentalism! Save Sindh!” They carried banners and placards inscribed with slogans to protect minorities.

Those who led the rally included Dr Ashothama Lohana of the HRCP, Suleman G Abro of the Sindh Agricultural and Forestry Workers Coordinating Organisation (Safwco), Mustafa Baloch of the Strengthening Participatory Organisation (SPO), Javaid Soz Halai of the Sindh Community Foundation, Zulfiqar Halepoto of the Sindh Democratic Forum, Zahid Thebo of the Society for Protection of Rights of Child (Sparc), Amar Sindhu and Dr Arfana Mallah of Women Action Forum and others.

They condemned burning of Dharamshala and damaging of some statues of Hindu deities in a temple following the alleged desecration of the Holy Quran. They expressed reservations over performance of the government and its law enforcement agencies as both had failed to protect minorities.

They said religious extremists were free and they committed arson attacks on minorities’ buildings and their holy places, creating unrest and tension across the province after that incident.

They claimed that a well-planned conspiracy was hatched to destroy peace and religious harmony in the interior of Sindh when Hindu people were busy celebrating their religious festivity of Holi.