The Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) on Sunday condemned what it termed the brutality of the Pakistani government against peaceful protest rallies held across the country against the martyrdom of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, his family, senior Iranian officials and innocent school girls in the attacks by the US and Israel on Iran.
In a statement, the MWM said law enforcement agencies’ attacks on the protesters was state terrorism carried out to please the United States. It said protest rallies were held in various cities of the country, especially Karachi, Gilgit, Skardu, Islamabad and Lahore, against the US and Israel, which resulted in the loss of 36 precious lives and injuries to hundreds of men and women.
The state power should be used to protect the lives and property of citizens, not against them. Firing on peaceful citizens, mass arrests and suppressing dissent with bullets and arrests was unacceptable in any civilised society, the MWM said, adding that the primary responsibility of the state was to protect the lives and property of its citizens and provide justice.
Demanding justice and accountability, the MWM called for an official declaration of a day of mourning today (Monday) over the deaths of innocent civilians. It remarked that the Pakistani government had become a pawn of the US.
The MWM said all the Shia scholars and organisations had condemned the government actions, and demanded the closure of US embassies across the country and expulsion of its ambassador. It added that the Shia scholars also demanded that Pakistan immediately announce its withdrawal from the Peace Board.
The MWM said immediate and transparent investigations should be conducted into these incidents and the injured treated. It also demanded an immediate release of the arrested people.
