PESHAWAR: Scores of people on Friday held a protest demonstration against the bombing on the shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar in Sehwan Sharif and termed it a barbaric and cowardly act of terrorism. They urged the government to arrest planners of the attack at the earliest and fully implement the National Action Plan (NAP) to remove the anti-state elements once and for all.

The protesters, who gathered outside the Peshawar Press Club, were holding banners and placards inscribed with demands for launching an operation against terrorists. They were led by Shia Ulema Council’s provincial general secretary Muzaffar Ali Akhunzada, Mir Ghulam Murtaza, Maulana Syed Murtaza and office-bearers of Imamia Students Organisation.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Akundzada said that the government and law enforcement agencies had failed to protect the lives and properties of people and the rulers had no right to remain in power.

He said that terrorism could not be eliminated until the government ensured provision of easy and cheap justice to the citizens. He said that acts of terrorism had increased due to inconsistency in policies.

He called for making collective efforts for elimination of extremism from the country. He expressed his concern over the delay in revival of military courts, and said that NAP should be fully implemented. He said that those creating instability and hatred among people should be dealt with an iron hand.

Mr Akhunzada said that the Sindh government should be held accountable for the lapse as it had failed to ensure checking of people at the shrine. He also condemned militant attacks in other parts of the country.

The council’s general secretary demanded an operation against the banned outfits in Punjab and urged the government to take strict measures for protection of the shrines and other such places in the country.

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2017