Faisalabad: April 2, 2016. (PCP) The Peace and Human Development (PHD-PAK), Association of Women for Awareness and Motivation (AWAM), Centre for Human Rights Education (CHRE), Adara Samaji Behbood (ASB), Awami Workers Party (AWP), and REAT Human Rights Defenders Network jointly staged a protest demonstration and candle vigil entitled “Unite to end Hatred, Extremism and Terrorism” under Rawadari Tehreek (Tolerance Movement) held outside District Council in Faisalabad on 28th March 2016. At this juncture, the agitated and sorrowed political workers, religious leaders, human rights activists and youth expressed their deepest grief over the deplorable attack, and lightened candles to extend solidarity with the victims and their families who lost their loved ones in the massacre at Lahore Park on Easter Sunday, and criticized the authorities for failing to take adequate security measures to safeguard citizens. They were also carrying banners and placards inscribed with statements calling for the perpetrators of this appalling and reprehensible act to be apprehended, and speeding up the ongoing action against the terrorists and their abettors. They strongly condemned suicide attack by militants at Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park in Lahore on Easter Sunday, leaving at least 74 people dead and over 300 people injured, and demanded that the government must ensure effective and full implementation of the unanimous national action plan to stamp out scourge of extremism and terrorism from the country, and must devise an appropriate strategy to change the mind-set of those who sow terror and death, and should make uncompromising efforts to eliminate the extremists, terrorists, and their supporters, facilitators and financiers once and for all. Speaking on the occasion, a religious leader, Father Khalid Rasheed Asi termed the attack as the fanatical violence against Christian families, and act of cowardice for targeting children, who fell prey to a suicide bomber who chose to detonate his explosives near the park’s play area. He rebuked the government for not taking enough security measures especially in the wake of terror threats to protect citizens particularly; Christian families who visited the park to observe Easter on last Sunday. The director of the Peace and Human Development (PHD-Pak), Suneel Malik said, “In order to ensure that no one should ever fear taking their children to parks, the government should seriously consider giving authority to the armed forces of Pakistan to clean up cities in and parts of Punjab from elements, which provide shelter or support terrorists, who are enemies of the state.” The director of the AWAM, Nazia Sardar said, “It is just not enough on part of the authorities to announce days of mourning after Lahore Park attack; and visit the hospital to inquire about the condition of the injured; and form joint investigation team to probe Lahore attack, the government must track down those responsible for the abominable attack, and take the perpetrators into custody.” A member of the Punjab Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW), Shazia George said, “The way the terrorists are striking demonstrates that their backbone has not been broken, contradicting the claims by the government.” “The only way to bring an end to terrorism is to dismantle and decapitating the terrorist network of well-wishers, sleeper cells, logistic supporters and planners through accelerating ongoing operation against them,” she added. A human rights activist, Naseem Anthony said, “The terrorism has damaged the image of Pakistan in the world, therefore the government must do unyielding efforts to uproot the menace of terrorism from the society by undertaking operation to weed out terrorists across Pakistan particularly; Punjab province.” A social activist, Irshad Parkash said, “Pakistan is fighting one of the largest inland wars ever fought against terrorism in the world, but this war can only be won by creating a national narrative and investing in the alternative means particularly broader awareness program to eradicate the roots and various facets of hatred, which will serve as best antidote to combat extremism, inequality and discrimination.” A political worker, Arif Ayaz said, “Banned outfits continue to operate in the country and keep amassing social support. The religious fanatics who have publicly sought assistance of extremist and criminal ‘ISIS’ are roaming free, which indicate that the writ of the government is nowhere. Therefore, the government must place those involved directly or indirectly in terrorist activities under arrest.” An educationist, Tohid Ahmed said, “It is very unfortunate that the government’s security and law enforcement agencies responsible for the safety and security of the citizens, have failed to effectively discharge their duties to stop terrorist activities, because attack could have been averted, if foolproof security measures had put in place, and militants of earlier incidents of terrorism had swiftly brought to justice.” A political worker, Habkook Gill said, “The government’s performance is abysmal failure in critical areas of the NAP, be it disallowing re-emergence of extremist outfits, and taking action against militant groups in Punjab, and taking effective steps against religious persecution as envisaged under the NAP, the government is failing on all fronts.” An other political leader said, “The recent vile attack puts a question mark on the ongoing operation against terrorists, and government’s claim about visible decline in incidents of terror in Pakistan.” “The sectarianism will not come to an end unless hate is rooted out that is entrenched within our textbooks, that is sown in sermons across Pakistan and casually thrown about in drawing room conversations,” he added. A political worker, Kamal Chugtai said, “The government must redefine its policies and take concerted action to ensure that such kinds of merciless acts against weaker groups particularly; minorities are not repeated, and prosecute those responsible for planning and executing attacks against religious minorities, and involved in harassing them and spreading hatred against them.”