DERA MURAD JAMALI: Protest rallies were held in Dera Murad Jamali, Sibi and Jhal Magsi areas on Wednesday against suicide bombing and killing of innocent people at the shrine of Rakhyal Shah of Fatehpur.

Hundreds of people marched on the main Quetta-Sukkur Highway and other roads of Dera Murad Jamali carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans against terrorism and the government’s failure to protect people’s lives.

The protest rallies were led by PPP leader Sadiq Umrani and Ghulam Rasool Umrani. Later, the participants of the rallies gathered at the local press club where Sadiq Umrani addressed them. The PPP leader said that the tragic bombing at Fatehpur shrine was a typical example of the government’s helplessness, which was condemnable. He said the statement of Balochistan’s home minister had rubbed salt on the wounds of victims and their families.

“The Fatehpur shrine belongs to Rakhyal Shah who preached teachings of Islam through his poetry and love to humanity and it does not belong to any sect.”

He demanded of the government to stop such barbaric attacks on shrines and other holy places of different communities and ensure foolproof security arrangements there. Disciples and followers of Sufi Cheezal Shah also held a protest rally in Sibi against the bombing of Fatehpur shrine and demanded of the government to provide security to people at all shrines.

Published in Dawn, October 12th, 2017