PAKISTAN-INDIA/ATTACKS-PROTEST Sunni protest against suicide attack near Pakistan-Indian border

Record ID: 355044

  • Title: PAKISTAN-INDIA/ATTACKS-PROTEST Sunni protest against suicide attack near Pakistan-Indian border
  • Date: 3rd November 2014
  • Summary: LAHORE, PAKISTAN (NOVEMBER 3, 2014 (REUTERS) PROTESTERS FROM PAKISTAN SUNNI TEHREEK PARTY (PST) HOLDING BANNER, READING (Urdu): "WE STRONGLY PROTEST AGAINST THE WAGAH BORDER TRAGEDY" PROTESTERS CHANTING: "LONG LIVE PAKISTAN ARMY" PROTESTER WAVING FLAG VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS CHANTING: "ANY FRIEND OF THE TERRORISTS IS A TRAITOR" PST FLAGS PROTESTERS CHANTING: "ANY FRIEND OF T
  • Embargoed: 18th November 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Pakistan
  • Country: Pakistan
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA9Z9OGEFOSB9M2BGGL2QO5GD6U
  • Story Text: Dozens of supporters of the Pakistan Sunni Tehreek party (PST) marched on the streets of Lahore on Monday (November 3) to protest against a suicide attack that killed 57 people and wounded 110 more near the Pakistan-India border.
    Chanting anti-Taliban slogans and waving large flags, the protesters condemned the attack, where a bomber detonated explosives in a car park about 500 metres from the main border gate between India and Pakistan as hundreds of spectators were returning from the popular military ritual.
    PST Secretary-General Mohammad Ali Naqshbandi said Pakistan would not intimidate the country.
    "Today the Pakistan Sunni Tehreek is protesting against yesterday's bomb blast at the Wagah border. We have assembled here to show that we are united and to convey a message to those who carry out bomb blasts and who believe that they can frighten the Pakistani nation," Naqshbandi said.
    At least two Pakistani Taliban splinter groups have claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was revenge for the army's military operation against insurgents in the tribal region of North Waziristan.
    Another protester demanded more action to eradicate those who claimed responsibility for the attack.
    "We have always demanded that a very strong operation should be carried out against the terrorists, and that the terrorists should be wiped out. If the Taliban or their allied groups believe that they can weaken the courage of the Pakistan army, the Pakistani police or the Pakistani nation with their acts of terrorism, they are greatly mistaken," he said.
    Every day, thousands of people from both India and Pakistan gather to watch the elaborate show where border security officials kick their feet high and grimace in mock aggression in a peacock-like display of patriotism.
    India and Pakistan solemnly lowered their national flags at a dusk military ceremony on their main land border crossing on Monday as a mark of respect for the dead - the first time the parade would have been called off since the two countries went to war in 1971.
    But later Pakistani officials changed their mind, deciding to go ahead with the ritual to send a message to the militants.

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