Leaders of all religions, civil society and business community Monday have condemned the sad incident of suicide bombing on two churches located in Youhanabad which left 17 people dead and more than 70 injured while lawyers and civil society observed black day and expressed solidarity with the bereaved families by wearing black armbands and holding protest rallies.
Addressing a press conference, the religious leaders raised their voices against the culprits of the attacks and the ‘secret hands’ behind them and demanded stern action to weed them out.
Pakistan Ulema Council Chairman Allama Tahir Ashrafi, Padri Emanual
Khokhar, Bishop Sabtain, Padri Shahid Meraj, Padri Alvin Samuel, Padri Saleem Akhter, Sikh leader Sardar Sham Singh, Hindu leader Dr Munawar Chand, Milli Yakjehti Council secretary Maulana Muhammad Khan Leghari, Shia Ulema Council leader Hafiz Kazim Raza and number of other religious personalities were present on the occasion.
They said that enemies of Pakistan wanted to divide Pakistani society on religious basis to fulfil their nefarious designs.
The Pakistani nation would not allow any such attempt to succeed, they said.
The religious leaders also condemned the burning of two suspects by an angry mob on the occasion and also attack on public and private properties.
“We want a stern legal action against those who burnt two suspects alive and ransacked public and private properties,” said Father James Channan.
He however, said that media and law enforcement authorities should focus on action against the terrorists who are responsible for killings of 16 people in the incident.
All other religious leaders also reiterated their pledge that they would not allow enemies of Pakistan to disrupt religious harmony in the country.
CITIZENS PROTEST, CIVIL SOCIETY MOURNS:
Meanwhile, lawyers and civil society activists observed black day on Monday to condemn the attacks.
Members of the Christian community took to the streets in Faisalabad and Lahore to register their protest.
The lawyers attended court proceedings while putting black armbands and the civil society activists staged rallies to express solidarity with the victims and the minorities.
Shops and other markets in the Youhanabad vicinity remained shut while all missionary schools also remained closed across the country.
Separately, approximately 100 protesters gathered at Faisalabad’s Millat road where they burnt tires and attacked a rickshaw. The protesters also blocked the Kamalpur Interchange on Faisalabad motorway.
The protesters then headed to Zila Council Chowk to record their protest. People had been protesting in different parts of the city since Sunday.
Following an attack on a metro bus in Lahore, authorities shortened bus routes on Monday as approximately 200 people continued to protest in various parts of the provincial capital such as Youhanabad, Nishtar Colony and Bund road.
Metro Bus Authority Managing Director Sibtain said that approximately 6,000 people had travelled on the metro bus since 6am. He requested the protesters to remain peaceful, adding that the nation stood with the victims in their time of sorrow.
Led by a priest in Youhanabad, women also held a sit-in protest and prayers for the deceased.
Some protesters pelted moving vehicles with stones while protesters also beat a rickshaw driver after he insisted to pass through the road blocked by the protesters.
Meanwhile, around 43 people injured in the blast were discharged from hospitals.
