ISLAMABAD: A group of protesters on Sunday gathered in the capital to condemn the recent attack on a mosque in Peshawar that left several people dead and others injured.

They pointed out that such an attack was a result of proscribed organisations being ignored and demanded from the government to implement the National Action Plan.

The protest was organised by Tehreek i Nifaz i Fiqah Jafariya (TNFJ). The rally was led by Allama Bisharat Imami, Allama Fakhar Abidi and other leaders.

Another protest rally was brought out at Saidpur Road, Rawalpindi led by the secretary general of TNFJ Syed Shujaat Ali Bukhari, Agha Syed Mohammad Murtaza Moosavi, Allama Qamar Haider Zaidi and other leaders.

Speaking at the TNFJ’s core committee meeting, TNFJ Chief Agha Syed Hamid Ali Shah Moosavi said when the educational curriculum will sow the seeds of extremism, the outcome will only be suicide bombers.

He urged the government to take concrete steps to make Pakistan safe and to avoid the situation from becoming similar to that in Libya or Syria. Extremists have become so fearless that they are spewing venom even after killing so many people as they were offering prayers in the mosque and no one is there to stop them, he added.

Had we gotten revenge for the attack on Army Public School Peshawar, terrorists would not have dared to attack another mosque, he said, adding, “The situation has proved that holding conferences, making councils, or taking signatures on documents cannot bring peace.”

The game of fire and blood will never stop without handing severe punishments to terrorists, he said, adding leaders of TNFJ were attacked and are being continuously threatened but the administration is reluctant to take due action.

Published in Dawn, March 7th, 2022