LAHORE, Feb 17: Majlis-i-Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM) on Sunday launched a country-wide protest, staging demonstrations and sit-ins in major cities against the Quetta terrorist attack.

A large number of Shias first staged a protest rally outside the Lahore Press Club.

The protesters, including women and children, gathered here under the banner of MWM and Imamia Students Organisation and later moved towards The Mall where they started a sit-in in front of Governor’s House for an ‘indefinite period.’

Led by MWM leaders Allama Abuzar Mehdvi, Allama Syed Mubarik Mausvi, Imtiaz Kazmi, Haidar Ali Mirza, Javid Akbar Saqi, Muzahir Shigri and Abid Husain, the participants continued chanting slogans against the government’s inaction against those involved in killing Shia Hazaras in Balochistan.

The sit-in continued till 10:15pm when the central MWM leadership announced calling it off after the head of Hazara community in Quetta asked the protesters to do so.

LAWYERS: Punjab Bar Council on Sunday announced observing a full-day strike across the province on Monday (today) against the Quetta carnage. According to a PBC announcement, the entire tehsil and district bar associations’ members will not attend courts.

PUNJAB GOVT: The Punjab government will observe Monday as a day of mourning for the victims.

The national flag would be hoisted at half mast on the entire provincial government buildings across Punjab.