Shias staged demonstrations in Multan and Bahawalpur to protest assassination of a central leader of banned Islami Tehrik (Tehrik-e-Jafaria Pakistan) and shouted slogans against the present government for its failure to maintain peace and tranquillity in the country. Severe tension prevailed in the area as more than 700 activists of Bazmi-Gulab and other Shia organisations in Multan and 500 in Bahawalpur joined the demonstration.
"Assassination of Allama Ghulam Hussain Najafi is a continuation of terrorist activities and failure of the present government which was using law enforcement agencies against its political rivals instead of criminals. This incident is a part of plot to foil the MMA' s strike," said Allama Sajid Ali Naqvi in his telephonic address to the demonstrators in Multan.
He said, "We vehemently condemn the murder of a Shia scholar, and a particular gang of terrorists was involved in terrorist activities which was pointed out by local and foreign media in the past but rulers were patronising them instead of taking them to task." Sajid Ali Naqvi further said, "It might be a plot to sabotage the strike at the call of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal but we would foil the Government's bid to do so."
Allama Bashir Arshad, Intizar Qureshi (JUP), Syed Tanveer-ul-Kazim, Ayyub Mughal and Basharat Qureshi also addressed the gathering.