SHANGLA: Protest rallies were held in different towns of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Saturday to condemn the suicide attack on a convoy of Jamaat-i-Islami chief Sirajul Haq in Zhob district of Balochistan on Friday, which left seven persons injured.

The Jamaat workers and leaders blocked the Puran-Martung Road in Shangla, shouting slogans against the authorities for failing to provide security to their leader. The rally was led by JI district emir Maulana Najmullah.

Addressing the rally, the speakers said Mr Haq remained unhurt in the blast thanks to the prayers of Pakistanis. They said the attack had raised questions on the security situation in the province that even a popular leader was not safe there.

JI leader Dayan Ghaffar said the daylight attack showed there was no security for the JI emir in Balochistan.

Participants flay govt for failing to provide security to Siraj

In Battagram, the Jamaat workers came out on the roads to protest the suicide attack on the party leader’s convoy in Balochistan.

The JI activists came out of Markaz Islami and gathered at the Khatmi Nabuwat Chowk, holding placards and banners inscribed with slogans condemning the attack.

Jamaat Battagram chapter emir Mohammad Rafique led the protest.

Speaking to the protesters, the JI leaders claimed enemies of Pakistan wanted to destabilise the country by staging such attacks. They said Sirajul Haq always played role in safeguarding the ideological boundaries of Pakistan.

They demanded of the government to trace those behind the attack and award them exemplary punishment.

In Dera Ismail Khan, the JI workers demonstrated in front of the press club against the suicide attack on the party’s chief Sirajul Haq.

JI district emir Manzar Masood Khattak led the demonstration. Later, the JI workers marched from the press club to the TB Hospital.

JI former district emir Zahid Mohibullah Advocate, tehsil emir Haji Aqeel Dumra, Darban tehsil mayor Ehsanullah Miankhel, Parova tehsil emir Qari Khalil and others also attended the protest.

The participants were holding banners and placards inscribed with slogans in support of their leader. They were also chanting slogans against terrorism. While addressing the rally, the JI leaders said Sirajul Haq always talked about peace and rights of the poor and suffering humanity. They said Mr Haq could play his positive role in bringing the country out of the current political crisis.

In Bajaur, the Jamaat workers staged a demonstration against the suicide attack on the party chief’s convoy in Balochistan’s Zhob district.

The demonstration was held in Khar Bazaar, which was attended by scores of party activists and senior leaders belonging to different parts of the district.

The protesters chanted slogans against the federal and Balochistan governments for their failure to provide security to the JI convoy that came under attack.

JI Bajaur leaders, including Maulana Waheed Gul, Mohammad Hameed, Khalilur Rahman, Hayat Mohammad and Arifullah addressed the protesters.

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2023