LAHORE: Emotional scenes were witnessed in the city on Wednesday as parties across the political spectrum, various institutions and the civil society held a vigil and offered funeral prayers (in absentia) for the schoolchildren killed in the terror attack in Peshawar.

The participants expressed solidarity with the families of the victims and demanded that the government and army eliminate terrorists from this land.

At the Muslim League House, Pervaiz Elahi said it was a national tragedy which was unparalleled in the country`s history. He said even in war children were not targeted.

`Attack on the army school in Peshawar is in fact attack on thefuture of Pakistan. The whole nation is united against terrorism and political leaders should maintain unity in their ranks and fully support the army, which along with civilians has written a new chapter of sacrifices by offering martyrdom of their children,` he said.

PML-Q parliamentary leader in Punjab Assembly Moonis Elahi said the nation shared the grief of the families and was united in the face of terrorism.

The Pakistan Peoples Party held a candlelit vigil outside the Press Club. Jahanara Wattoo said there was no option but to fight terrorism in the country. She said this dastardly and inhuman act had exposed the realface ofterrorists.

The participants were carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans like `Say no to terrorism`, `stay united against terror-ism` and `raise your voice against terrorism`.

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf women wing led by Talat Naqvi held Quran Khwani for the Peshawar tragedy victims at its office. The Pakistan Awami Tehreek women wing held a vigil at Liberty Chowk and expressed solidarity with the bereaved families.

The Jamaat-i-Islami and Jamaatud Dawah offered funeral prayers for the victims at Mansoora and Chauburji, respectively.

JI Secretary-General Liaquat Baloch condemned the attack and demanded that the `hidden hand` behind this be exposed. He said all the forces againstIslam and Pakistan had ganged up to crush the Muslims.

He said the situation demanded that the national leadership sit together to meet the challenges.

Badshahi Masjid prayer leaderism` and `raise your voice against terrorism`.

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf women wing led by Talat Naqvi held Quran Khwani for the Peshawar tragedy victims at its office. The Pakistan Awami Tehreek women wing held a vigil at Liberty Chowk and expressed solidarity with the bereaved families.

The Jamaat-i-Islami and Jamaatud Dawah offered funeral prayers for the victims at Mansoora and Chauburji, respectively.

JI Secretary-General Liaquat Baloch condemned the attack and demanded that the `hidden hand` behind this be exposed. He said all the forces againstIslam and Pakistan had ganged up to crush the Muslims.

He said the situation demanded that the national leadership sit together to meet the challenges.

Badshahi Masjid prayer leaderMaulana Abdul Khabeer Azad led the symbolic funeral prayers.

Acting Governor Rana Muhammad Iqbal, Deputy Speaker Sher Ali Gorchani, ministers Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan, Dr Farrukh Javed and Mian Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman and senior officials attended the prayers.

The funeral prayers were also held on the premises of the Punjab Assembly.

GCU: At a condolence reference, Government College University ViceChancellor Prof Dr Khaleequr Rehman said terrorists could not deter us from our journey to enlightenment.

`The massacre of schoolchildren in Peshawar has united us as nation and opened new vistas of national integration, peace and prosperity,` he said.

He offered deep condolences to the bereaved parents and the relatives of the martyred teachers and army personnel. Students and teachers also held a candlelit vigil to show solidarity with the grieved families.

PU: The Punjab University (PU) Institute of Communication Studies organised a protest rally against the incident. ICS incharge director Dr Noshina Saleem led the rally which started from ICS and ended at the Institute of Education and Research.

UET: The University of Engineering and Technology`s Architecture Department held a vigil on the campus and condemned the terrorist attack.

The Ahmadiyya community also rapped the barbaric terrorist attack. Its spokesman, Saleemuddin, said there were no words to express his grief and sorrow at the tragedy.