LAHORE: Several demonstrations and vigils were held in the city on Sunday to condemn the brutal killing of schoolchildren in Peshawar.

The All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA) held a reference at the Central Church on Waris Road.

APMA Chairman Dr Paul Bhatti said Christians had been observing a mourning week to protest the brutal killing of children in the Taliban attack.

“We demand the government arrest the terrorists and all those patronising them,” he added.

Former MPA Najmi Salim, Advocate Haroon Suleman, Pastor Emanuel Khokhar, Abdullah Malik, Navid Wasti, Joseph Pal, Shafiq Bhatti, Naeem Jan and Shahbaz Sindhu also paid tributes to the victims of the attack. They said the whole nation saluted the children. They also held vigils.

The Cecil and Iris Chaudhry Foundation held a prayer at the Liberty Chowk. The participants expressed solidarity with the families of the victims.

“Terrorists have hit at the heart of the nation, but we will fight back. We will emerge stronger and will not let innocent children’s blood go in waste,” it said.

Civil society members also held vigils in Sant Nagar and Wapda Town. Rights activist and PML-N worker Bao Rafique said terrorists had committed a crime against humanity and the whole nation shared the grief of the grieving families.

Published in Dawn, December 22th, 2014