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| India-Pakistan |
| Shias protest against Taliban |
| 2008-09-02 |
| Hundreds of enraged protestors warned the government on Monday that if the eight-month long siege and economic blockage in Kurram Agency (Parchinar) by the Taliban is not ended, they will issue a call for a long march toward Kurram Agency to free the besieged people by force. Different Shia organizations staged a four-hour sit-in at Numaish Chowrangi on M.A. Jinnah Road in front of the Quaid's mausoleum. The protestors chanted slogans against the government over its failure to stop the aggression of the Taliban against the Shia community in Kurram Agency and D.I. Khan. Addressing the protesters, the leaders of various Shia organizations, including Imamia Students Organization (ISO) Karachi President Raza Abidi, Jafferia Alliance (JA) Vice President Allama Aftab Jafferi, Shia Ulema Council (SUC) Leader Maulana Shahan Shah Naqvi, Zehra Academy Chief Maulana Shabir Messami, Maulana Sadiq Raza Taqvi and others demanded that the government to fulfill their demands and arrest the killers of the Shia community in D.I. Khan and Kurram Agency. They alleged that foreign players and some local agencies were involved in the ongoing sectarian violence and added that banned outfits were involved in the D.I. Khan bomb blast and target killing of innocent Shias. They urged the government to take the stern action against the Taliban and release the Peshawar Parchinar Road from the occupation of the Taliban. The Shia Ulema warned the government that this is the second phase of their movement and if the government does not fulfill their demands, they will convert the mourning procession of the martyrdom of Hazrat Ali (RA) on 21st Ramadan into a sit-in protest against the government. The sit-in caused a traffic blockade in the center of city and thousands of commuters were held up, despite efficient steps taken by police officials. The police blocked all the roads connected to the Numaish Chowrangi. |
| Posted by:Fred |