ISLAMABAD, March 4: Terming the recent wave of deadly bombings in Quetta and Karachi and the targeted killings a conspiracy against the country, Majlis-i-Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM) here on Monday warned the authorities that if the terror activities were not checked, they would launch a nationwide protest march towards Islamabad.

“I warn you if such incidents continue taking place, we will organise a nationwide long march to Islamabad,” said MWM chief Allama Nasir Abbas.

He was addressing a protest gathering at D. Chowk after a rally against the twin bomb blasts at Abbas Town, Karachi. Pointing towards the parliament house, he said: “Nobody will be allowed to get there if the citizens are not safe.”

He also demanded the suspension of Karachi administration and an army-led operation in that city.

He criticised the federal and the Sindh governments for their failure to apprehend terrorists and produce concrete evidence against them in the courts.

Allama Abbas said terrorists were targeting the Muslims and Pakistanis indiscriminately but the authorities were behaving like ‘sitting ducks’.

“This is not a sectarian issue,” he said in a charged voice. “I repeat this is not a sectarian issue and there is no division on the basis of sects or ethnicity in the country.”

He said a large number of Sunnis were also killed in Quetta and Karachi blasts, adding a handful of terrorists were active only because the authorities were not doing their job.

Allama Abbas blamed the intelligence agencies for failing to identify the terror network, their nurseries and intercept their activities.

“And if the situation remained uncontrolled for long, the people of the country would be forced to take up arms and seek justice themselves,” he said.

“So far, the people of Pakistan have remained law-abiding citizens.”

It was announced that the coming Friday would be observed as the ‘day of martyrs for the nation’.

All political parties will be asked to join the protest against terrorists who were bent on destroying the fabric of society.

“The victims are everywhere and they belong to all categories, class, race and sects but the killers are the same,” said Allama Abbas.

RAWALPINDI: A group of people protesting the Karachi killings blocked traffic at Liaquat Bagh in Rawalpindi for over two hours on Monday.

The protest organised by the All Pakistan Shia Action Committee brought together over 100 people. They were carrying placards and chanting slogans against the government and law enforcement agencies for their failure to protect the people, particularly the Shia community.

Some of the protesters tore down posters and banners of the PML-N and the PPP along the Benazir Bhutto Road.

The protesters were led by Allama Ashfaq Waheedi and Syed Javed Ali Shah. They blamed "hidden hands" for the violence in Karachi and Quetta. "These attacks are aimed to spread sectarian violence as part of a conspiracy against Pakistan," they said.

They, however, said the government had also failed to fulfil its responsibilities. "Had those behind the attacks in Quetta been arrested, they would not have dared to kill innocent people in Karachi. These terrorists must be apprehended as soon as possible," they added.