Lahore remains in a state of shock

30 Dec, 2007

A day after the burial of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, Lahore remained in a state of shock on Saturday with People's Party workers taking to streets in different parts of the provincial metropolis to protest the assassination of their beloved leader.
The major protest was witnessed at Data Darbar Chowk where PPP activists held a demonstration after offering Ghaibana Namaz-e-Janaza of Ms Bhutto. Led by PPP leaders Khalid Ghurki, Aslam Gill, Dr Fakhar and others, a large number of protestors held a rally up to High court Chowk chanting anti-government slogans. Some of the enraged PPP activists tried to put a closed petrol pump on fire but police failed their attempt. The precisionists wanted to march up to the Punjab Assembly building but the police did not allow them to cross the Lahore High Court Chowk where the protestors burnt spare tyres and disbursed.
Heavy police contingent was deployed on the route of procession. Moreover, Rangers and police contingents were also deployed at important buildings including the Lahore High Court, State Bank of Pakistan, Punjab Assembly and Wapda House to avoid any untoward incident.
In some other parts of the city including Mughalpura, Shahdara, Gowalmandi and Baghbanpura, a group of PPP activists burnt spare tyres on the roads. Ghaibana Namaz-e-Janaza of slain PPP leader was also offered at the Lahore Press Club, which was attended by journalists and members of civil society.
People also paid tributes to Ms Bhutto by lighting candles in front of PPP office.
In a condolence meeting of the People's Lawyers Forum held here on Saturday, the participants offered fateha for the eternal peace for Ms Bhutto. The meeting was chaired by Mian Hanif Tahir, was attended by Khawar Mahmood Kathana, Iftikhar Shahid and Mian Jamil Akhtar. The meeting condemned the assassination of Ms Bhutto and demanded impartial probe to take the culprits to task. Moreover, most of the People's Party leaders left Lahore for Naudero to join the party leadership there.

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