Civil society protests against govt over Quetta, Parachinar killings

A compact but emotionally charged procession gathered in front of the Karachi Press Club on Thursday evening to protest over the recent killings in Quetta and Parachinar.

The procession, which comprised notable members of the civil society, was held under the aegis of the Democratic Students Federation.

Processionists were holding aloft banners inscribed with slogans, including “Say no to religious intolerance”, “Shuhada-e-Parachinar Ko Surkh Salam” and “Zalimo Jawab Do, Khoon Ka Hisab Do”.

Even though it was raining, the enthusiasm of the protesters was not at all dampened as they braved the weather conditions and kept chanting slogans with all the gusto, to be joined in later by passers-by.

A prominent civil society figure, Nazim Haji, while talking to The News, said, “The demands of those participating in the sit-in against the killings in Parachinar must be heeded forthwith.” Another prominent and active civil society worker, Mehnaz Rehman, who is director of Aurat Foundation, said, “Our protest is two-fold.

Firstly, we want our rulers and those that matter to wake up to their bounden duty to strain the last nerve to bring this senseless killing to an end. Secondly, we also want to make the people of India conscious of the senseless killings taking place there on account of religious differences.

“We want to make it clear to all and sundry that killing on account of religious differences is something absolutely savage and we must dispense with the phenomenon.”

The processionists demonstrated first at the Arts Council and after that walked over to the Karachi Press Club in the rain, a testimony to their commitment to human rights as well as to their concern over the savage killings.

The protest took place a few hours after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced compensation money for the families of people killed and those who were injured in the twin Parachinar blasts on June 23.

As per the announcement, Rs1 million will be given to the families of people killed in the two blasts that rocked Parachinar in Kurram Agency recently. Besides, Rs500,000 has been announced for those left injured by the explosions.

More than 70 people were killed in the back-to-back explosions that targeted an Al-Quds rally in the Turi Market area and the hospital where the casualties were being taken to after the first one.

Protests against the lukewarm response from the government have been continuing across the country, including Karachi.

At the Numaish roundabout, dozens of Shia community members organised a sit-in on Tuesday, the second day of Eid, against the twin bombings Parachinar.

The protesters mourned the death of the Parachinar blast’s victims and expressed solidarity with the heirs of the deceased. The protest ended in the wee hours of Wednesday.