LHC CJ convenes meeting after Quetta suicide attack

LAHORE

Lahore High Court Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah has convened an extraordinary meeting for Tuesday (today) to discuss issues in wake of Quetta suicide attack. 

Punjab home secretary, inspector general of police, representatives of Pakistan Bar Council and Lahore High Court Bar Association have been directed to attend the meeting. 

HRCP: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has strongly condemned two attacks targeting lawyers in Quetta on Monday in which at least 53 people have been killed. It has also slammed the authorities’ inability to protect citizens through effective counter-terrorism measures.

In a statement, the Commission said: “HRCP condemned in the strongest possible terms the killing of Balochistan Bar Association President Bilal Anwar Kasi and the bombing at Quetta’s Civil Hospital which has claimed 53 lives so far and injured 50 people. A large number of the casualties are lawyers and at least two media workers have been killed and a number of them injured.

“This coordinated mowing down of lawyers is absolutely unacceptable and outrageous. Official condemnation of this latest massacre in Quetta or calling it the work of a foreign intelligence agency is not enough. The state has the responsibility to safeguard the lives of all citizens from all actors who have an appetite for bloodletting.

“The fact that the reprehensible attack that caused large-scale casualties on Monday occurred in a hospital, which are not supposed to be targeted even during wartime, must spur the authorities into taking action against militants of all shades. This is not the first time either that a hospital has been attacked in Quetta after victim/s from an earlier attack were brought there. In June 2013, a bombing in a bus carrying Sardar Bahadur Khan Women’s University students was followed by gun-and-bomb attacks on Bolan Medical College hospital when the victims were brought there for treatment. The failure to provide adequate security at the hospital in the circumstances is highly regrettable.

"HRCP urges the government to ensure that the public resources are used for securing the lives of all citizens. No one, in Quetta or elsewhere, will grudge security or protocol details for VIPs or for sports festivals if that does not come at the expense of security for the people.

“No amount of money could make up for the loss of the bereaved families, but the least the government can do now is give adequate compensation to the families of the victims and the injured so that at least their financial needs are met at this difficult time.”

FAPUASA: The elected leadership of Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA) and PU-ASA strongly condemned terrorist incident in Civil Hospital, Quetta on Monday.

In their statement, the FAPUASA and PU-ASA leaders demanded the security institutions to nab those involved in the heinous and cowardly act at the earliest saying anti-Pakistan forces were active but defeat would be their ultimate fate.

They said the entire nation stood with the Pakistan Army in its fight against terrorism and the menace of terrorism would soon be rooted out from the country. They expressed grief over the loss of precious human lives in the incident of terrorism.

Punjab Schools Education Minister Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan also strongly condemned the terrorism incident in Quetta and expressed deep grief over the loss of precious human lives. The minister expressed sympathies and condolences with the bereaved families and prayed for earlier recovery of injured persons. 

In his condolence message, Rana Mashhood said terrorists were the enemies of Islam and humanity. He said whole nation was united in the war against terrorism. 

ETPB: Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Chairman Siddiq-ul-Farooq has condemned Quetta blast. 

According to a press release issues here Monday, the chairman expressed deep sense of sorrows with the grieved families and prayed for the departed souls and injured persons. 

Meanwhile, Siddiq-ul-Farooq transferred/posted Yasir Asghar as Deputy Secretary Admin. Yasir was working as Superintendent Admin. A notification in this regard has also been issued.

PIMA: Central president of Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA) Dr Abdul Malik and president PIMA Balochistan Dr Habib-ur-Rahman condemned the blast at Civil Hospital Quetta. 

In a press statement issued on Monday, they said terrorism of any kind is inhuman; the fact that it was carried out in a place where sick and injured people come for medical help makes it several times more deplorable.  They instructed all PIMA members to reach there and help out victims in whatever way is needed, including blood donations for the injured.

They expressed condolence to the suffering families, and demanded severe action to punish those involved.