HYDERABAD, Feb 6: Activists of Shia organisations held rallies and demonstrations across the province on Friday in protest against suicide bombing a day ago in a mourners’ procession in Dera Ghazi Khan, which claimed 30 lives and left dozens injured.

In Hyderabad, members of Shia community led by Kazim Shah Naqvi, Nizam Hyder and Sajid Jafri held a demonstration outside Qadamgah Moula Ali.

They condemned the bombing and claimed that such attacks were aimed at fomenting Shia-Sunni riots in the country. They urged their community fellows to foil such conspiracies, which aimed to create schisms in Muslim Ummah.

In Khairpur, activists of different Shia organisations took out a rally, which started from Anjuman Hyderi Imambargah and terminated at the press club after marching on the main roads of the city.

The leaders condemned the attack and termed it a failure of the government. The government and its allies were engaged in tug-of-war and the people had been left at the mercy of terrorists, they said.

In Sukkur, hundreds of activists of Shia Action Committee held a rally and a demonstration outside the press club.

The protestors led by Allama Tahir Hussain Shah Mousavi and Allama Ali Bux Sajjadi took to the streets from Haideri Mosque and and reached the press club after marching on the main thoroughfares of the city.

The leaders slammed the government of Punjab, which according to them, had failed to provide protection to mourners. They blamed Punjab government for patronising terrorist elements and alleged that the bombing was part of a conspiracy against Millat-i-Jafaria.

They demanded that the government pay Rs800,000 each as compensation to the heirs of the dead and Rs300,000 for the injured and warned of strong protest movement, if the culprits were not brought to book.

They termed target killing in Quetta a conspiracy and demanded that the government put an end to external interference in the country’s affairs.

Shia ulema led similar rallies in other cities and towns.

In Mirpur Mathelo, scores of Shia Ulema Council and Asgharia Students Organisation activists led by Allama Akhtar Loond and Abbas Channa held a rally, which started from Hussainia Imambargah and reached the clock tower roundabout after marching on main roads of the city.

The leaders slammed suicide bombing in the mourners’ procession in D. G. Khan and demanded that the government arrest the culprits and award them exemplary punishment.

They demanded that the government provide protection to people’s life and property.

Activists of Shia organisations in Naushahro Feroze, Moro, Umerkot, Kunri, Jacobabad, Kandhkot and Badin held demonstrations and rallies, voicing condemnation of the suicide bombing.