LAHORE: M.M. Alam Road`s Husain Chowk was one of many places in Lahore where there was a palpable sense of grief as scores of people gathered there on Wednesday to pay a tribute to the Peshawar `school soldiers` The blacl< armbands, mustard oil lamps, placards and pamphlets were the `weapons` the protesters brought with them to fight the anguish. The Pakistan-US Alumni Network (PUAN), Lahore chapter, members lit the intersection with lamps to commemorate the deaths of schoolchildren shot and killed in the army-run school in Peshawar by Taliban milit ants on Tuesday.

The crowd, consisting of all agegroups, later took a round of the intersection with lamps in their hands.

They were led by senior politician from Okara Rana Ikram Rabbani, a PUANmember.

`The government should sack the inspector general of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police immediately, if he doesn`t resign,` he said. He justified his demand by saying: `IG Nasir Durrani has served as additional IG of special branch for four years in Punjab and he must have expertise in terrorrelated intelligence. If he can`t stop such a gruesome attack, he should accept his negligence that led to the massacre.

As the activists walked, motorists passingbyhonkedhorns andnashed lights as mark of their support forthe cause.

`We`re taking a small step of holding vigil and standing by the victim families,` said Naeema But t, PUAN general secretary. `But in fact, it`s a big step that we`ve come out of houses and sent a strong message to terrorists.

Lawyer Sajid Bashir, clad in his professional black jacket, came to the rally from his chamber. `My participation (in the event) is my political and ideological expression that Pm against terrorists. They are beasts and must be culled,` he said.

Shahid Husain, a journalist with a TV channel, said it was time to fight the ideology of the Taliban.

PUAN President Faisal Sheikh said he strongly condemned the massacre of children on behalf of the organisation.