LAHORE: A large number of people of the Shia community held an 18-hour sit-in in front of the Governor’s House on The Mall on Monday in protest against the killing of Tehreek-i-Nifaz-i-Fiqa Jafria leader Allama Nasir Abbas.

The mourners, women and children among them, started gathering outside the Governor’s House at about 2am, three hours after the cleric from Multan had been gunned down near the FC College on Sunday night.

They braved cold and fog and remained peaceful throughout the demonstration. They chanted slogans against the government for its failure to curb the elements who were killing innocent people.

“We believe this is not a Shia-Sunni fight. A third party is trying to sabotage peace efforts in the country,” Mohammad Akram Hussain, a protester, said while talking to Dawn. He said he didn’t believe that a Muslim could kill another Muslim. Saleem Haidri, another protester, said he was worried about the ongoing wave of sectarian terrorism. “I am really in a state of fear. What will happen if a suicide bomber strikes here. I appeal to the government to do something for this country to protect people and maintain peace and harmony.” He urged the government to arrest and expose those involved in killing innocent people.

Women protesters were seen giving food to their children. “Since protesting against highhandedness has now become our routine, we bring food with us,” a woman said. She criticised the rulers for their failure to protect the Shia community.

“Killing of Allama Nasir Abbas is a slap on the face of the Punjab government. Such a brutal act is highly condemnable and every Muslim should protest against this,” Abdul Khaliq Asadi, Majlis-i-Wahdatul Muslimeen’s Punjab Secretary General, said, adding that the ‘coward rulers’ must say whether trying to hold dialogue with terrorists was not an admission of defeat.

Allama Abuzar Mehdvi announced that Chehlum processions of Hazrat Imam Hussain would be held with more enthusiasm and larger gatherings and said: “Those planning to impose a ban on Muharram and Chehlum processions and of Eid Miladun Nabi will never succeed.”

Allama Ali Hussain Kumi led the funeral prayers at 4.45pm. The body was later sent to Multan for burial.