LAHORE: Citizens, human rights activists, teachers and journalists on Monday held a protest demonstration outside Lahore Press Club against the Quetta blast, which claimed more than 60 lives. The protestors, including teachers, journalists, human rights’ activists and civil society representatives, have termed the incident as a cowardly attack and conspiracy to disrupt peace in the country. Carrying placards and banners, protestors chanted slogans against terrorists and demanded the government to take action against such elements. Different human rights organisations, civil society organisations, teachers’ unions, journalists’ representative bodies and NGOs issued their statements and condemned the blast. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) strongly condemned the attacks and slammed the authorities’ inability to protect citizens through effective counter-terrorism measures. In a statement, the commission stated, “HRCP condemns in the strongest possible terms the killing of Balochistan Bar Association President Bilal Anwar Kasi and the bombing at Quetta’s Civil Hospital, which has claimed 53 lives so far and injured 50 people. A large number of the casualties are lawyers and at least two media workers have been killed and a number of them injured.” The statement further added that this coordinated mowing down of lawyers is absolutely unacceptable and outrageous, adding that official condemnation of this latest massacre in Quetta or calling it the work of a foreign intelligence agency is not enough. “The state has the responsibility to safeguard the lives of all citizens from all actors who have an appetite for bloodletting,” it added. According to HRCP, the people are justified in asking where were our security agencies when these actors, foreign or Pakistani, were plotting or causing mayhem in Quetta. The government must go beyond calling Monday’s terrible events a security lapse and explain why it has failed to prevent such a terrible attack. “The fact that the reprehensible attack that caused large-scale casualties on Monday occurred in a hospital, which are not supposed to be targeted even during wartime, must spur the authorities into taking action against militants of all shades. This is not the first time either that a hospital has been attacked in Quetta after victim/s from an earlier attack were brought there,” the statement concluded. Pakistan Civil Society Forum (PCSF), a representative body of more 50 human rights and development organisations from across Pakistan, stated that the innocent people are soft target of the terrorists and security apparatus has failed to protect their lives, and these incidents are a serious security lapse from the side of all concerned. The statement issued by PCSF said that the entire civil society of Pakistan including the human rights and development organisations are angered and shocked at this brutal incident and console with the aggrieved families. The statement added that this particular incident that took place in a city where the security agencies are said to be always vigilant is a sad surprise for the entire nation and that has raised many questions on the performance of our agencies and implementation of so called National Action Plan, and question short term and long term measures to eliminate terrorism, radicalisation, militancy and target killings in the country. Similarly, Federation of All Pakistan University Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA) also condemned the attack, stating that such activities are proof of cowardly behaviour of terrorists who are terrified by the successful Operation Zarb-e-Azb. Lahore Press Club President Shabaz Mian also condemned the blast and brutal killing of Balochistan Bar Association President Bilal Anwar Kaasi and cameraman of a private news channel. Mian said that anti-state elements are active in Balochistan but they will be failed, as such activities cannot bare journalists and lawyers of performing their duties. The National Commission for Justice and Peace also condemned the tragic attack, as NCJP Chairman Dr Joseph Arshad in a statement said that killing innocent people is an inhumane act and totally unacceptable. He emphasised that the government needs to improve their security measures and ensure the right of life for all citizens.