Day of mourning observed across country

Markets, private educational institutions remain closed in Lahore

LAHORE/KARACHI: A day of mourning was observed across the country to express solidarity with the Lahore carnage victims. The national flag flew at half-mast on all government buildings after the Punjab government announced three-day mourning and the AJK government two days. The Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments had announced one-day mourning. The national flag in Islamabad, however, remained as usual as the federal govt did not announce any mourning period.

All major and small markets as well private educational institutions remained closed in Lahore on Monday. The private schools also were closed in other parts of the country; however, state-run institutions remained open. All public parks in Lahore have been shut following the bomb blast.

Joining the mourning, the legal fraternity boycotted the courts in Sindh on the call of the Pakistan Bar Council and Sindh Bar Council. Lawyers hoisted black flags on the bar rooms of Sindh High Court and subordinate courts and wore black arm bands.

In Lahore, the lawyers observed a complete strike and hoisted black flags at the bar premises, while the judges adjourned cases without progress and did not dismiss any case for non-prosecution. Protest meetings were also held at the Lahore High Court Bar Association and Lahore Bar Association.

Speakers at the meetings strongly condemned the suicide attack and also blasted the government over the failure to protect the citizens, calling for bringing the perpetrators and their facilitators to justice.

Pakistan Bar Council, Supreme Court Bar Association, Punjab Bar Council, Lahore High Court Bar Association and Lahore Bar Association announced to hold a joint protest-cum-peace rally on Tuesday (today) from Aiwan-i-Adl to the Punjab Assembly.

In a statement, SCBA President Syed Ali Zafar said it was yet another cowardly and vicious terrorist attack which specifically targeted children and women. He urged the SCBA members and their families to donate blood to save the victims. He suggested that the government should seriously consider giving authority to the armed forces of Pakistan to clean up cities and parts of Punjab where terrorists had been getting support.