ISLAMABAD: Life was paralysed on Monday in the country’s major cities and towns as mobs from the Christian community and other minority groups held demonstrations in protest against the twin suicide bombings at a church in Peshawar the previous day.

The protesters blocked roads and key highways, including GT Road, causing traffic jams in several cities, including Islamabad and the four provincial capitals.

Peace activists, representatives of civil society, lawyers and students from various universities also participated in the demonstrations and rallies to express solidarity with the Christian community.

The protests turned violent at a number of places, including Peshawar, Karachi and Multan, where protesters pelted passing vehicles with stones, burnt tyres and caused damage to public property, prompting police to resort to batoncharge and teargas shelling.

Taliban deny involvement

In a significant development, the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan denied involvement in the attack and termed it an attempt to sabotage the ongoing peace process.

“We haven’t done this. We don’t attack innocent people,” Shahidullah Shahid, the TTP spokesman, said by telephone from an undisclosed location.

Most of the shopping centres in several cities remained closed in response to the three-day mourning announced by the government and political parties. Missionary schools throughout the country also remained shut.

The British foreign secretary, who arrived in Islamabad on Monday evening, had to wait at the Nur Khan Air Base for more than half an hour because the Islamabad Expressway was closed to traffic.

The main protest in Islamabad was held outside the Parliament House, where the National Assembly was in session.

The protesters in Karachi blocked roads around the press club with rocks and burning tyres, while according to private TV channels the authorities in Lahore had to suspend the Metro Bus service for several hours due to protests at a number of places.

Our Correspondent adds from Lahore: People belonging to all walks of life staged sit-ins and took out rallies all over Punjab.

In Lahore, protests were held at Ferozpur Road, near Youhanabad, Bhatta Chowk in Defence, Thokar Niaz Beg and Saidpur, on Multan Road.

A large number of activists of the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance marched from Shimla Pahari to the Punjab Assembly building. The marchers observed a two-minute silence in front of the provincial assembly to pay tribute to the victims of the attack.

In Toba Tek Singh, police used batons to control an angry mob which tried to damage public and private property.

Meanwhile, Church of Pakistan President Bishop Samuel Robert Azariah has appealed to members of the Christian community to hold protest demonstrations peacefully.

“The Christian community should refrain from violence and damaging property belonging to individuals or the state. We need to maintain our belief and teachings that we are a peaceful community that has the spirit of tolerance and forgiveness,” said Bishop Samuel.

RAWALPINDI: Commuters faced hardships in Rawalpindi because of traffic jams on almost all main roads.

Infuriated protesters burnt tyres, tore apart banners and placards of political parties and uprooted billboards.

Talking to media, Bishop of Saint Paul Church Samuel Titans said: “I am short of words to condemn the attack. What kind of creatures are they (the attackers)?”

He urged the government to take steps for protecting the minorities’ places of worship or else allow them to make their own arrangements.

A large number of civil society activists gathered outside the National Press Club and held a march to the Parliament House.

Rallies were also held in Taxila, Wah Cantt, Hassanabdal and Murree.

Lawyers in Islamabad observed a partial strike and boycotted court proceedings. The Islamabad District Bar Association, Islamabad High Court Bar Association and Lahore High Court Bar Association, Rawalpindi, called a complete strike for Tuesday.

HYDERABAD: People from all walks of life took out processions in Hyderabad and a number of cities and towns of Sindh, including Nawabshah, Mirpurkhas and Khairpur.

BALOCHISTAN: The church attack was widely condemned all over Balochistan, according to the official news agency APP.

The Balochistan Muttahida Mahaz held a demonstration outside the press club in Quetta.

Members of the Christian community held a rally outside the Governor House.