PESHAWAR: Activists of Amn Tehrik, a representative body of civil society organisations, staged a peace rally here Thursday to express solidarity with the victims of the devastating car-bombing at Meena Bazaar.

Scores of activists from various walks of life including doctors, lawyers, human right activists, students and traders participated in the rally that started from historic Chowk Yadgar and culminated at the blast site in Meena Bazaar.

At least 120 people were killed and more than 200 injured on October 28 in the most devastating bombing in Peshawar’s history. At the blast site, the participants chanted: “We want peace on our soil” and “No to terrorism.”

Speaking on the occasion, Haji Haleem Jan, chairman of Tajir Ittehad, said the government should immediately compensate the families of the victims. He also demanded compensation for those, who lost their business and property.

Haleem Jan said the federal government should give the NWFP 80 per cent of the funds being received from the US for taking part in the war on terror.

Dr Said Alam Mahsud, a member of Amn Tehrik, said they came to express their sympathies with the bereaved families and to convey a message that the affectees were not alone in their hour of grief and sorrow. He said they wanted to convey a message to terrorists that the people of the province would not be cowed down by their terror activities and would stand united and fight them till their elimination. Condemning terrorism, Dr Said Alam said the perpetrators of such a heinous crime could not be called Muslims or even human beings.

Idrees Kamal, the Tehrik convener, said Peshawarites would not succumb to terrorism and would continue their struggle to restore peace and tranquility in the city. He said the rally was taken out to give a message to the affectees of the tragedy that the civil society was with them in this hour of trial.

Shaukat Ali, president of the Peepal Mandi Traders Association, said the government should take concrete steps to provide security to the people. He said the heirs of the victims of any sabotage activity in Punjab were paid much higher compensation compared to NWFP.

Shahabuddin Khattak, a lawyer, said terrorists with such cowardice acts could not demoralise Pakhtun nation, adding that the government should write off all the utility bills of the people of the province.

Haji Ghufran, speaking on behalf of the traders, criticised the provincial and district governments for their incompetence in the rescue operation after the tragic incident. He said it was highly deplorable that several people died by getting trapped under the rubble of the buildings. He said the local people launched the rescue operation soon after the terror act and pulled the bodies and those injured from under the debris long before the arrival of the ill-equipped rescue teams and poorly-trained firefighters. Later, the participants laid a floral wreath at the site of the blast.