KARACHI: The people across the society continued their protest and anger over the Sehwan Sharif tragedy on the third day holding rallies and meetings where speakers condemned the perpetrators of the tragedy and the renewed wave of terrorism in the country.

Shia Ulema Council Sindh chapter on Sunday organised protest rallies and demonstrations against Sehwan Sharif tragedy and ongoing wave of terrorism.

In Karachi, the main protest rally was taken out from Shah-i-Khurasan to Imambargah Ali Raza. The participants were holding banners and placards inscribed with slogans against militancy and terrorism.

Speaking to the participants, Allama Nazir Abbas Taqvi, Allama Shabbir Hasan Mesmi, Allama Jafar Subhani and Allama Karamuddin Waizi said elimination of terrorists was the need of the hour. They said those involved in the killing of innocent people could not be called well-wisher of Muslims or followers of Islam.

The terrorists by attacking on the shrine of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar had proved their cowardice, they said. They demanded that the people responsible for the tragedy be arrested at the earliest and given along with their facilitators exemplary punishment.

They also said that had the state institutions executed the terrorists involved in targeted killing and militancy, such situation might not have been emerged.

They also termed desecration of the body parts of the martyrs a shameful act and insult of the humanity.

The protesters demanded immediate payment of Rs2 million in compensation to the heirs of martyrs and Rs1 million to the injured victims of the tragedy.

Jamaat-Ahle Sunnat also took out a protest rally from Arambagh. Led by Allama Shah Abdul Haq Qadri, Haji Hanief Tayyab, Allama Kokab Noorani and other leaders, the rally wanted to proceed to CM House but were stopped near the Sindh Secretariat.

Speaking on the occasion, they said that non-extension to military courts had encouraged the terrorists and called for making foolproof security at all the shrines. The participants were also addressed by Allama Muzaffar Hussain Shah, Maulana Abrar Ahmad Rehmani, Allama Akram Saeedi, Syed Mohammad Ashraf Al-Jilani, Mufti Ahmad Ali and others. They said that shrines were being targeted under a calculated move but the bomb blasts could never end people’s love for the saints. By closing shrines, the government could not eliminate terrorism, they added.

The protesters demanded opening of shrines for visitors after making proper arrangements for security and more effective measures be taken to check recurrence of such tragedies.

They termed the tragedy the worst example of brutality and said those involved could never escape from the curse of Allah. They also pointed out that militants of banned organisations were accepting the responsibilities of the attacks but the federal interior minister was not ready to accept their existence in the country.

They said that if rulers could not protect people and shrines of the Sufi saints, they ought to resign.

Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen also staged protest demonstrations in different parts of the province and condemned the bomb attack on the shrine.

The Jamiat Ulema Pakistan observed “Yome Tahaffuz Mazarat-i-Aulia” by taking out a rally from Liaquatabad led by Abdul Rahman Noorani, Hafiz Sohail and others and called for taking tough security measures.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2017