Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) observed a nationwide ‘day of mourning’ Sunday over the martyrdom of more than 100 innocent people in Swat/Quetta bombings.
In a statement, MQM Chief Altaf Hussain appealed to the masses to make the day a success. He also urged the traders to keep their businesses closed.
“I urge all the people to keep calm and remain peaceful. That should refrain from all violent agitations”, he said.
He said all the legitimate demands of the mourners including handing over the city to army should be accepted without further delay.
The main gathering was held in Lal Qila Ground in Azizababd for payers for the martyred in blasts. Thousands of participants attended the gathering. Deputy conveners of the co-ordination committee Anis Ahmed Qaimkhani, Dr Farooq Sattar, Dr Nusrat Shoukat, other members of the committee, senators, MNAs, MPAs, office-bearers of different wings of the MQM, workers or units and sectors, and a large number of MQM sympathisers were present.
Talking to the media persons, Dr Sattar said the Hazara community living in the vicinity of Alamdar Road was being targeted constantly. He said the community was suffering because of continual terrorist attacks, but no one was taking notice of their plight.
Dr Sattar said it seemed there was no government in Balochistan and he criticised the Balochistan chief minister’s callous attitude towards mourners holding a sit-in with the dead bodies of their loved-ones.
He said Balochistan had fallen in the grip of a handful of terrorists and nothing was being done to restore the confidence of the people in the government.
Dr Sattar said the Balochistan government had lost the right to rule. He said the president and prime minister must take serious notice of the Balochistan situation and bring peace to the affected people.
Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah also condemned an attack on a vehicle in Miran Shah, North Waziristan Agency. In a statement, the Sindh CM has termed the attack a cowardly act of terrorism.
Up and down train service suspended
Thousands of passengers suffered agony as train services remained suspended for several hours due to protest in Malir area of Karachi on Sunday evening against the killings of Shia Hazara community members in Quetta. According to details, several up and down trains remained stranded at Landhi and Drig colony railway stations as the protestors were not prepared to leave the railways track. The trains that were stopped at Landhi and Drig colony railways stations or those that could not depart from the Cantt stations included Tezgam, Allama Iqbal Express, Farid Express and Millat Express. The passengers, particularly elderly people, women and children suffered the most due to the forced stoppage of the trains.
Black Coats to boycott court proceedings
The Sindh Bar Council (SBC) announced on Sunday that it will boycott courts in Monday (today) across Sindh to show solidarity with the families of Quetta carnage victims. SBC Vice Chairman Ghulam Abbasi made the announcement of the strike call.
“Keeping in view the government’s apathy, we have decided to boycott courts’ proceeding on Monday to express complete solidarity with the victims of Quetta carnage,” he announced.
He said that Sindh Bar Council would fully respond to the call of Pakistan Bar Council (PBC). On the other hand, the Karachi Bar Association (KBA) President Naeem Qureshi said that there would be a complete strike in the city court as well.
Highway blocked for hours
The National Highway has been blocked here from the last night to protest against the Quetta carnage and thousands of vehicles are stranded on both sides of the road creating immense problems for passengers, specially women, children and patients. On the call of Wahdatul Muslimeen and other organisations protestors blocked the main highway last night and continued their blockade till filing this report. The protest is the part of nation-wise protests against the Quetta carnage. Sadly, this prolonged protest has created immense troubles for passengers including women and children. Many patients are also struck up in the road blockade. Hundreds of families traveling in buses and coaches have nothing to eat and drink. At night time there is a big security problem for these stranded passengers. It has been reported that last night bandits looted some vehicles that tried to travel on side link roads in the village areas.
Protesters demand tangible action
KARACHI: A sit-in was held outside Bilawal House in Karachi on Sunday to protest the targeted killings of Shias in the country, particularly the blasts in Quetta on Thursday which left over 100 people dead. The protesters demanded the president and prime minister to take concrete steps to stop ongoing sectarian violence in Balochistan. They maintained that the Balochistan provincial government should be sacked for being incapable of controlling the law and order situation. A large number of children were also seen holding placards and shouting slogans during the protest. The police brought in water cannons and asked the protesters to disperse within 10 minutes, however, the protesters refused saying they will leave only after their demands are met. The police also blocked routes leading to Bilawal house.
