DADU: Condemning the suicide bomb blast at the shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, Jamaat-i-Islami emir Sirajul Haq has said it was an attack on all nations and humanity.

He said that for centuries, the shrine had been a hub of love and unity for people of all castes and creeds. He said the shrine was the place that connected the people with God.

Senator Sirajul Haq was talking to journalists after he visited the shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar on Saturday.

He said that during the last seven centuries no such incident had occurred at the shrine but the recent tragic incident had caused deaths of scores of people. He appreciated the media for correctly informing the nation about the incident.

He said the aim of his arrival in Sehwan was to deliver his message that the people of Sehwan were not alone and that the whole nation stood with them. He said people belonging to various races, religions and countries came to Sehwan and it was the government’s responsibility to provide security to them. He said the people paid taxes to the government and it was the duty of the state and government to protect them at schools, colleges, religious places and shrines besides protecting the borders. He said owing to the unavailability of security at public places, the enemies attacked the public easily. He said anti-Islam elements were making children orphans.

He said the nation and the whole Muslim Ummah was ready to protect the country and people. “We do not fear such blasts,” he said, adding that the rulers were weak but the public was not.

He praised the citizens of Sehwan for their help for the blast victims. He said the rulers should not wait for another such tragic incident and if they could not provide security to the public, they should go home. He deplored that the rulers were protecting themselves by deploying security officials but caring little for the public.

The JI chief said whether it is through operation Zarb-i-Azb or Raddul Fasaad, the people wanted peace and security. He said the federal and provincial governments should ensure protection to the public.

Talking on the Panama Leaks issue, he said his party had moved court against corruption in the interest of the nation. He said proofs and evidences were submitted in court and the public had demanded justice from the court in the case. He said he hoped the Supreme Court would announce its decision against corruption.

Sirajul Haq watched the dhamal at the shrine and later he offered condolences to the caretakers of the shrine, Syed Wali Mohammad Shah and Syed Hassan Shah on the deaths of devotees in the suicide blast.

PPP-SB chairperson

Condemning the bomb blast at the shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, PPP-SB chairperson Ghinwa Bhutto said on Saturday that the dhamal at the shrine should not stop under any circumstances.

She was talking to journalists after visiting the shrine. She said elements involved in the ghastly act were not humans and deserved the harshest punishment.

She criticised the heads of the PPP, PML-N and the PTI for the failure of their governments in their respective domains.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2017