Badami Bagh incident is an ugly spot on the face of Pakistan: Saleem Shahzad
London: 10th March 2013
Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) organized a protest demonstration at 10 Downing Street in order to express solidarity with the victims of the Abbas Town tragedy in Karachi and Badami Bagh tragedy in Lahore. The demonstration continued for over two hours. Members of the Co-ordination Committee Muhammad Anwer, Saleem Shahzad, organizer of MQM UK Dr Saleem Danish and workers and office-bearers of different units of the MQM in UK attended the demonstration. Shumaila Imran, wife of late Dr Imran Farooq, was also present along with her children. Members of the Pakistani community, including women and children were also present on the occasion.
The participants were carrying placards condemning the killing of innocent people in Abbas Town and the attack on a Christian neighbourhood in Badami Bagh in Lahore. They also decried rising incidents of terrorism in Pakistan.
Speaking on the occasion member of the Co-ordination Committee Mr Saleem Shahzad said that the Badami Bagh incident was an ugly spot on the face of the country. He said that on one hand the bloodshed of the Shia community was continuing, and on the other hand, the Christian community was also being targeted.
Mr Shahzad expressed solidarity to the affected families of Abbas Town and the Christian community of Badami Bagh and assured them that the MQM would not leave them alone.
Speaking on the occasion member of the Co-ordination Committee Mr Muhammad Anwer said that the Punjab government had miserably failed in providing security to the Christian community and the unfortunate incident had tarnished the image of the country in other countries.
Dr Saleem Danish handed over a memorandum to the staff of the 10 Down Street in which the British government has been appealed to use its influence with Pakistan for curbing terrorism, eliminating bomb blasts and providing security to the Christian community.