ISLAMABAD: A large number of people on Sunday gathered outside the National Press Club and called upon the government to provide protection to the lives and properties of religious minorities in the country.

They held the gathering on the call of Minorities Alliance Pakistan (MAP) to condemn the terrorist attack on Christian pastors in Peshawar in which Pastor William Siraj was killed and Pastor Patrick Naeem injured a few days ago. They demanded to arrest killers at the earliest.

“Unfortunately, minorities are left alone to bear consequences. Terrorist attacks on innocent civilians and soldiers are increasing day by day. Government is in the state of dubitation to fight terrorism,” MAP Chairman Advocate Akmal Bhatti said while addressing the protesters.

Shamaun Alfred Gill, MAP vice chairman, and Nadeem Bhatti also spoke.

The protesters demanded that terrorists involved in the killing of Pastor William should immediately be arrested and brought to justice.

Advocate Bhatti said it was the responsibility of the government to protect the citizens.

“Federal government is not serious to implement National Action Plan (NAP) and National Security Policy in its true spirit. We are surprised that why government is showing kindness and leniency for the killers of humanity. We will not tolerate further attack on our people and places of worship,” he said.

“MAP stands and fully supports the security forces that are sacrificing their lives to protect Pakistan and eliminate terrorism. Government must bring revolutionary changes in curriculum and polices to eradicate religious extremism. We demand that is the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa take concrete step to secure minorities that are soft target. Terrorists and their promoters must be dealt with iron hands. MAP will keep raising voice for protection, justice and their fundamental rights,” he said.

Published in Dawn, February 7th, 2022