LAHORE: Lawyers and members of the civil society on Friday staged a protest demonstration at GPO Chowk against the brutal killing of schoolchildren in Peshawar.

The participants holding placards in their hands chanted slogans against terrorism and urged the government to deal the terrorists with an iron hand.

Female lawyers also lit candles in the memory of the children martyred in the terrorist attack.

Meanwhile, artist and activist Jimmy Engineer said the students of Army Public School, Peshawar, on becoming victims of a brutal and merciless terrorist act had given the clarion call of ‘rise and unite Pakistan’ with their blood, says a press release.

Paying a tribute to the students, he called for construction of a befitting memorial for the children who had united the political leadership as well as the entire nation by laying down their lives.

In a statement issued here, Engineer said the large number of students who were targeted by terrorists would always be remembered for their great sacrifice as a result of which not only the political leaders but also people all over the country had risen and united and condemned terrorism. They had also pledged to fight militancy, extremism and terrorism in all their manifestations, brushing aside political and other petty differences.

The Peace and Harmony Network Pakistan (PHNP), an assembly of representatives from religions and faiths, also condemned the attack on the Army Public School, and appealed for special prayers from Friday to Sunday for the attack victims.

“We should arrange prayers in mosques, churches, temples, gurdwaras and all other worship places besides schools and madaris,” said a statement issued on Friday.

Published in Dawn December 20th , 2014