MANSEHRA: Religious parties on Friday took out rallies throughout Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and adjoining tribal areas against the execution of Mumtaz Qadri, the killer of Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer.

The prayer leaders delivered fiery speeches in Friday sermons criticising the government over Qadri’s execution.

Later, activists of religious parties took to the streets and demanded resignations of the prime minister and the president. In some parts of the province, traders closed their shops and protesters blocked major roads.

In Mansehra district, traders observed a complete shutdown strike, while religious parties held rallies after Friday prayers against the execution of Salmaan Taseer’s killer.

The central association of the traders had given the call for strike. Most business centres and shops remained closed all through the day.

Prayer leaders deliver fiery speeches in Friday sermons

The Jamaat-i-Islami and JUI-F jointly took out the main rally from the central mosque located on Abbottabad Road. The participants shouted slogans against the government and demanded the prime minister step down.

In Charsadda district, too, workers of religious groups protested the execution of Qadri. The protesters staged rallies after Friday prayers in Charsadda city, Tangi, Umarzai, Sar Dheri, Mandani, Hari Chand, Dhaki, Tarnab and Nesata areas.

They also blocked roads and demanded the resignation of the prime minister and the president. The protesters also called for end to ban on preaching in Punjab universities, withdrawal of the women protection law, and execution of held blasphemers.

In Batkhela, headquarters of Malakand protected area, the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat and JUI-F workers staged separate rallies against the execution of Salmaan Taseer’s killer.

The ASWJ rally began from Amandara and ended in front of the press club, while the JUI-F demonstration was held in Batkhela Bazaar.

In Battagram, the activists of religious parties blocked the main Karakoram Highway for more than an hour to protest the execution of Qadri.

Also in the day, rallies were taken out in Dobeer, Jejal and other areas of Kohistan district on the call of the JUI-F.

The protesters blocked the Karakoram Highway for over one hour. They dispersed peacefully afterwards.

In Ghalanai, headquarters of Mohmand Agency, activists of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat demonstrated in the main bazaar against the execution of Salmaan Taseer’s killer.

The protest began in Chanda area and ended outside the press club building. Holding banners and placards and shouting pro-Qadri slogans, the protesters also blocked the main Peshawar-Bajaur Highway for around an hour.

Published in Dawn, March 5th, 2016