Churches, missionary schools closed, protests continue against Peshawar blast

Dunya News

All the churches as well as the missionary schools in the country remained closed on Monday.

LAHORE (Dunya News) - Protests sparked across the country against Peshawar twin suicide blasts, demanding the government to take stringent measure for the security of the minorities.

All the churches as well as the missionary schools in the country remained closed in mourning for three days. 

In Lahore, Christian rights, minority rights and civil rights bodies held rallies and protest demonstrations expressing their grief over the Peshawar Church bombing, terming it criminal negligence on the part of the provincial government.

The civil society also condemned terrorist attack on Peshawar church and termed it a brutal, inhuman act and against the values of Islam and humanity and also against the teachings of Islam.

Civil Society Network held a demonstration at the Cheering Cross in which the civil society leaders said Islam is religion of peace and tolerance and such human activities are not tolerable. They said it is state responsibility to safeguard human lives and under article 25 of the constitution 1973 all citizens are equal.

In Karachi, rallies were taken out in different areas to express solidarity with the Christian community. The demonstrators demanded the government to take stern action against the culprits.

In Rawalpindi and Islamabad, a large number of Christians staged protest demonstrations. Earlier on Sunday, they blocked D-Chowk, Zero Point, Islamabad Expressway near Iqbal Town, Benazir Bhutto Road, Mall Road, Airport Road and Peshawar Road and burnt tyres to block traffic on main roads.

The protesters, carrying banners and placards, pelted stones on public and private vehicles, raised slogans against the government and demanded end to terrorist activities. They also blocked GT Road.

In Multan, local Christians rushed out to roads outside Mission Hospital near Pakistan Radio office, Nawaz Shehr Chowk, Rasheedabad chowk, Mumtazabad and Jalilabad and blocked roads to register their protest.