Shias protest against attacks

Army urged to stop genocide

* Shia leader demands Governor’s Rule in Balochistan

Staff Report

LAHORE: Members of the Shia community held a demonstration in front of the Lahore Press Club on Friday against the brutal killings of their members in Balochistan, and urged the army to intervene and take control of the province in order to stop the genocide.

On Thursday, a string of bombings left at least 105 people dead and more than 150 wounded on Alamdar Road of Quetta in one of the bloodiest days of violence that Balochistan has seen in many years. Most of the victims were Shias.

The participants of the demonstration, carrying placards and banners, demanded an end to the genocide of Shias. Activists of Imamia Students Organisation also joined the protest and chanted slogans against the targeted killing of the community members in Balochistan.

Addressing the protesters, Shia leader Allama Abuzar Mehdi demanded the federal government impose Governor’s Rule in Balochistan. He also urged the government to have army operations conducted across the province without any further delay.

Hinting at a potential ‘civil war’ following the worst genocide of Shias in the country’s history, he said that the government should take immediate steps to eliminate anti-state elements from Balochistan if it wanted peace to prevail in the country.

He also urged political parties and government institutes to end their patronage to banned terrorist organisation, especially in Balochistan, saying that such outfits were involved in the targeted killing of Shias in the province. The protesters blocked the road for traffic and continued shouting slogans against the killers. They said that the recent terror attacks were as a conspiracy to disturb the peaceful environment of the country.

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