Demonstrators, including women and children on Thursday held sit-ins across the country in solidarity with the families of victims of Mastung bus suicide bombing that martyred 25 pilgrims on their way to Quetta on Tuesday.
In Quetta, the victims’ families continued their sit-in for the second day along with the bodies of their dead in protest of the attack and demanded action against the culprits.
Sit-ins were held in Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, Multan and Hyderabad where protestors condemned the attack.
In Lahore, Majlis e Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM) staged a sit-in protest near Governor House on Mall Road. Traffic flow continued on one side of the road while the other was blocked due to the protests. A large number of police personnel were deployed around the protests for security.
Protestors demanded that the federal government should ensure security of its citizens, adding that the sit-in would continue until the demonstrators in Quetta call off the protest and bury their dead.
In Karachi, sit-ins and protests under Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) and other Shia organizations were arranged on Shahrah-e-Faisal, Shahrah-e-Pakistan and M.A Jinnah Road. A large turnout was seen at the protests which led to disruption of traffic in areas including Ancholi, Malir, Shah Faisal, Qayyumabad, Hino Chowk Flyover, Federal B Area, Abul Ispahani Road and Numaish Chowrangi. Schools also remained closed in the Sindh metropolis.
Members of civil society and demonstrators in the federal capital of Islamabad condemned the Mastung attack and demanded swift action against the terrorists. A vigil was also held outside the Islamabad Press Club on Wednesday night.
In Multan, hundreds expressed their solidarity with the families of the victims in a sit-in. Security remained beefed up in the city.
