APP
The death toll of Kirani suicide blast raised to 85 as another injured child succumbed to his injuries at the Combined Military Hospital on Monday, as countrywide protests raged on against the terrorist attack.
The identity of the deceased could not be ascertained. He, however, belonged to the Hazara community.
Members of the aggrieved community have refused to bury the victims’ bodies in protest since last Saturday evening when the blast took place. They are demanding the army’s deployment in Quetta to flush out the banned outfits besides ensuring security to the members of the Hazara community.
Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari directed the Balochistan governor to take all necessary measures for the security of the Hazara community. He made a telephone call to Balochistan Governor Nawab Zulfiqar Ali Magsi and enquired about the situation in the province in the wake of the Saturday’s bomb blast. He asked him to monitor the relief operation and provide all possible help to the victims and their families.
Countrywide protests were staged on Monday with national flag lowered at half mast in the Punjab and Balochistan, while sit-ins were being held in various parts of Karachi.
Shops and markets were reported shut in parts of Karachi and traffic was scarce. Furthermore, a number of government and private educational institutions were also closed and the strike was also affecting the schedule of the flights and trains to and from the city. Women and children were also taking part in the sit-ins being held at the city’s MA Jinnah Road’s Numaish chowrangi, Aisha Manzil, Ancholi, Shahrah-e-Pakistan and Shahrah-e-Faisal.
The Karachi Bar Council has announced to boycott court proceedings in protest against the Quetta blast. The Karachi Transport Ittehad has also announced its support.
Moreover, flight schedules were also affected as the patch between Drigh Road and the airport was sealed. A sit-in was also staged on the railway track in Malir Town which affected the schedule of trains travelling to and from the rest of the city. No train could depart from Karachi due to the protest being lodged against Quetta killings. The protesters and participants of the sit-ins said they would continue to demonstrate until the demands of the heirs of those killed and wounded in the bombing were not met.
In Quetta‚ people of the Hazara tribe are holding a protest outside an imam bargah, placing the dead bodies of the victims of Karani Road blast.
Last month three bomb blasts in Quetta killed nearly 100 people, one of Pakistan’s worst sectarian attacks. Thousands of Shias protested in several cities after that attack.
Reports say the government has formed two investigation teams to probe into the carnage. The case has been registered at Barori Police Station, Balochistan Police said.
Under instructions of the Balochistan governor, who is also the current chief executive of the province, two investigations teams headed by DIG Investigations Fayyaz Sumbul were formed. They are directed to submit the report within 10 days.
The governments of Punjab‚ Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan also announced one-day mourning against the Quetta tragedy on Monday.
A Punjab Government spokesman said the national flag would be lowered at half mast in the province to mourn the deaths of innocent people.
AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed has announced to observe three-day mourning in the state to express solidarity with the families of victims of Quetta blast.
In Gilgit-Baltistan‚ Chief Minister Syed Mehdi Shah has also announced one day mourning on Quetta tragedy.
It's a shame. The Gujarati Shia created Pakistan. Had he known what his Pakistan would look like in 65 years, he would have stayed behind in Bombay and died peacefully.
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