Peace rallies held across Sindh for harmony

By Waseem Shamsi
Saturday, 02 Jan, 2010

SUKKUR, Jan 1: Peace rallies were held in different cities and towns of Sindh on Friday to promote social harmony in the wake of a blast in the central Ashura procession and large-scale arson attacks in Karachi.

More than 2,000 activists of political, religious and social organisations, on the call of the South Asia Partnership Pakistan, held a big protest rally in front of Sukkur Press Club against rising incidents of terrorism in the country.

Carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans against terrorism and in favour of peace, participants took to the streets from Hawa Bunder, from where the island of Sadh Belo, housing some Hindu shrines, could be seen.

Shouting slogans terrorism, they marched on the main thoroughfares of the city and reached in front of the press club.

Speaking on the occasion, provincial coordinator of South Asia Partnership Ali Mir Shah, social activist Punhal Sario and DCO Abdul Majeed Pathan said that everybody needed peace and rising incidents of tribal feuds, kidnapping for ransom, robberies and theft, karo-kari and jirga system had ruined Sindh.

They said lawlessness had badly damaged peace and harmony, education, agriculture and economy of the province, rendering thousands of people jobless. This situation forced poor people to commit suicide and sell their children.

They said that only unity of the people of Pakistan could foil the heinous designs of terrorist elements.

Condemning the Karachi tragedy, they said that in retaliation to the army operation, terrorists were targeting innocent people.

They expressed sorrow over torching of hundreds of shops in Bolton Market immediately after the bomb blast.

On the occasion, people and activists of the SAPP, Awami Tehrik, Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaaz, Sindhi Adabi Sangat, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Wapda Labour Union, traders and labour unions, Sindh Hari Committee, Shahree Ittehad Sukkur, Women Forum and Mallah Tanzim joined hands and vowed to defeat terrorism.

Specialty of this rally was dozens of Jogis (snake charmers) who were wearing traditional orange outfit and were dancing to the tunes of ‘Murlis’.

Participants also freed pigeons as symbol gesture for peace.

Another rally was taken out by the Shia Action Committee. Speaking at the end of the rally, Allama Ali Bux Sajjadi and others condemned the bombing in the Ashura procession of Karachi and said that it was a target killing of Shias.

Expressing concern over arson attacks on shops, they said people belonging to their community were not involved in that cowardly act. It was the handiwork of terrorists who wanted to destabilise Pakistan.

They demanded arrest of the real culprits and exemplary punishment to them.

They also demanded that the government should compensate the loss of traders.

Similar peace rallies were also held in Mirpur Mathelo, Ghotki, Ubauro, Daharki, Thull, Jacobabad, Kandhkot, Dadu, Mithi and other cities.

Hundreds of people participated in each rally.

Tags: SolidarityDay