LAHORE: Civil society, students and the people from all walks of life continued holding protest rallies here on Thursday to condemn rape and murder of Zainab and the government’s failure to arrest the culprit(s).

Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri led a walk in front of his Model Town Secretariat against the incident and demand justice for the victim. Children from various schools attended the walk. Carrying placards, they raised slogans against the Punjab government and held it responsible for the poor law and order.

The civil society and students held a walk on Gulberg’s Main Boulevard before staging a demonstration at the Liberty Chowk to condemn the incident and demand justice for Zainab.

Carrying placards, they said they were in a state of severe shock over the incident, demanding justice for the parents of Zainab and public hanging of the culprits. “We have come here for the love of Zainab. We have just one demand – hang the culprits,” one of the participants said.

The protesters lit candles at the Liberty Chowk in memory of Zainab and prayed for the departed soul.

Lawyers in Lahore observed a black day to mourn the rape-cum-murder of Zainab on the call of the Punjab Bar Council and demanded resignation of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Law Minister Rana Sanaullah. They wore black armbands to express their anger over the incident and boycotted courts.

Holding a general house meeting, the Lahore High Court Bar Association called the police ‘cruel’ for denying the FIR in the case. The bar leaders said the whole country was sad over the incident.

The Lahore Bar Association (LBA) also observed a strike in the lower courts. Model Town, Cantt and district courts wore a deserted look. The lawyers offered free legal aid to the victim family.

A number of students of various universities who belonged to the Progressive Youth Alliance staged a demonstration at Charing Cross on The Mall.

Carrying placards and banners, they raised slogans against the government for, what they termed, its failure to protect the life and honour of the people and children in Kasur.

Led by singer Jawad Ahmad, they demanded arrest of the culprits and award of stern punishment to the culprits.

The Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT) organised a protest rally in the Punjab University. Male and female students participated in it.

Published in Dawn, January 12th, 2018