Speakers asked authorities to improve worsening law and order in the province
JAVED KHAN
PESHAWAR
A large number of people, including workers and supporters of nationalist political parties, staged a protest rally on Monday against the new spell of terrorism and lawlessness in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The protest was organised by the Ulasi Pasoon Peshawar chapter outside the Peshawar Press Club (PPC).
The workers of Awami National Party, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, Pakistan People’s Party, Pashtun Tahafuz Movement, Qaumi Watan Party and Mazdoor Kissan Party participated in the protest.
A large number of the general public and members of civil society organizations also attended the protest rally.
The Ulasi Pasoon in support of political parties had held a number of protest rallies across the province and successfully attracted thousands of people across KP in the months.
The protest rally in Peshawar was organised in the wake of suicide blast in Peshawar where over a hundred people, mostly policemen, were killed during a prayer congregation in Malik Saad Police Lines.
The incident took place when an explosion ripped through a mosque frequented by policemen.
The protestors holding white flags demanded justice and peace on the soil of Pakhtunkhwa and an end to the target killing of people and law enforcers in the province.
They demanded independence inquiry into Peshawar police lines suicide bomb blast.
ANP provincial leaders, including Sardar Hussain Babik, Mian Iftikhar Hussain, PTM chief Manzoor Pashteen, Member of National Assembly (MNA) Mohsin Dawar and leaders of PMAP participated in the protest and addressed the rally.
Carrying banners and placards, the participants of the rally condemned the new wave of terrorism in the province , especially in Peshawar and demanded the incumbent federal, interim provincial governments and law enforcement agencies to play their role in improving the worsening law and order situation in the province.
Chanting slogans against the recent spike in militancy and deadliest attack in the provincial capital, they asked the authorities to take pragmatic steps to improve the security situation in the KP.
The speakers stressed upon the government to provide protection to its citizens against the terrorists and launch a comprehensive crackdown on them and their facilitators.
They said that the poor law and order and rising militancy had created a sense of insecurity among the local people and human right activists.
Terrorism has destroyed the social, economic and political life of the people in the province but the authorities concerned have observed pin drop silence over it, they added.
The protesters said that the people were protesting against the Peshawar mosque suicide attack which has claimed lives of policemen and other people.
Meanwhile, anticipating more protest rallies in the provincial capital, the district administration of Peshawar imposed a ban on gathering under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
A notification issued by Peshawar Deputy Commissioner said “keeping in view the prevailing law and order situation in the area and to provide a congenial atmosphere to the general public, it is important to maintain a peaceful and agitation-free environment within the premises of District Peshawar.”
District administration has warned that anyone found violating this order will be trialed under u/s 188 P.P.C.
