Mastung carnage: MWM sit-in continues in Lahore

LAHORE: A protest organized by the Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) continued in Lahore on Thursday as well against the killing of 24 people, mostly Hazara community pilgrims by a suicide bomber who struck a passenger bus in Mastung on Tuesday, Geo News reported.

The MWM leaders were of the views that dialogue should not be held with the terrorists under any circumstances.

The sit-in at Governor House, Mall Road is being attended by the MWM and Imamia Students Organisation workers. The aggrieved protesters demanded justice and action against the perpetrators behind Mastung tragedy.

The demonstrators refused to end the protest until the government ensures concrete action against the terrorists.

Due to the sit-in on Mall Road, the commuters faced difficulties in reaching to their destinations.

It may be mentioned here that 24 people, mostly Hazara community pilgrims, returning from Iran were killed and 35 more wounded when a suicide bomber struck a passenger bus in Mastung on Tuesday.

The attack took place at Dringhar village on the Pakistan-Iran highway some 60 kilometers (37 miles) west of Quetta, Balochistan's capital.

Quetta city wore a gloomy look as the families of the victims and members of the Hazara community began a sit-in protest. They placed the dead bodies on Shuhda Chowk, blocked Alamdar Road and refused to bury there loved ones until the authorities took action against the extremists behind the attack.

A complete shutter-down strike was observed in the provincial capital to condemn the bombing on the call of nearly all the politico-nationalists parties.

All markets and business centres at Liaquat Bazaar, Prince Road, Jinnah Road, Shahra-e-Iqbal, Mission Road, Shawak Sha Road, Masjid Road, Hazara Town, Alamdar Road and Abdul Sattar Road remained closed throughout the day.

Heavy contingents of the police and law enforcement agencies have been deployed to maintain law and order in the city. However, no unpleasant incident was reported.

Hundreds of people also took to the streets in Karachi demanding action against the culprits. The city's roads remained blocked for hours causing miles long snarl-ups to the peril of citizens.

Sit-ins were also staged in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and other cities of the country to show solidarity with the families of the blast victims.

The protesters said they will continue their sit-ins until the Hazara community bury their dead and end their protest in Quetta.