News Analysis |
The leaders of Shia Hazara community have finally agreed to call of their protest over the recent killing of two young men of the community. The sit-in was called off after the Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa met the representatives of Hazara community and agreed to provide them security in future.
Chief Minister Bizenjo, Commander of Southern Command Lt Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa, Home Minister Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti, Inspector General of Frontier Corps Maj Gen Nadeem Ahmed Anjum and IG of Balochistan police Moazzam Jah Ansari were also present in the meeting between the army chief and the Hazara community elders.
The delegation of the Hazara community was led by Balochistan Law Minister Agha Raza and Allama Hashim. Majlis Wahadatul Muslimeen (MWM) Secretary General Allama Assadi and other members including Nasir Shah, Qayyum Changaizi, Daoud Agha, Allama Jumma Assadi were also present on the occasion. Army chief was briefed about the ongoing targeted killings of Shia Hazara community and steps taken by the provincial government to protect the community.
It is pivotal for both civilian and military establishment to take some serious measures to ensure the security and safety of Shia community of Hazara. It is also important to expose all those behind these virulent attacks against Shias and other religious minorities in Pakistan.
Read more: Hazaras calls off strike as COAS assures security
Why this sit-in?
Shia Hazara community is often targeted by the terrorists and extremists because of their religious beliefs. This protest was organized by the provincial minister Syed Agha Raza who was leading Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen’s (MWM) to demand protection for the people of Hazara.
Moreover, according to media report over the past few days, six persons have been killed and three wounded in Quetta. The demands of protesters included “targeted killings of Hazaras end immediately, the perpetrators be arrested, and the army chief meet the protesters so they can personally apprise him of the community’s plight”.
The brother of a local mosque’s imam was shot dead on April 27 on Toghi Road, followed by the targeted killings of two other people on Jamaluddin Afghani Road. All three people were Hazaras.
The leaders of Shia Hazara community have finally agreed to call of their protest over the recent killing of two young men of the community. The sit-in was called off after the Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa met the representatives of Hazara community.
On April 29, three people were murdered by unknown attackers who fired at random on shops located on Jan Mohammad Road. In response to this Shia community of Hazara staged the sit-in a demanded security from the Army chief.
Read more: COAS Gen Bajwa steps in to address grievances of Hazara community
Who is Behind the Targeted Killings of Shia Hazara Community?
There has been no commendable efforts by the provincial government to arrest the killers of Hazara community. The usual expression is that ‘some unknown perpetrators’ have murdered some members Hazara community.
Killers have generally not been known. But Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, the banned extremist group affiliated with al Qaeda and Taliban, is often blamed for the ‘genocide’ of the community. The organization is said to be involved in many attacks, including the July 2003 Quetta Mosque bombing (44 martyred, 65 wounded), September 2010 Quetta Quds Day bombing (73 martyred, 160 wounded), September 2011 Mastung Bus massacre (26 martyred) and the March 2004 Ashura procession assault (42 martyred, 100+ wounded).
Read more: Social venture helps Hazara women of Pakistan
Army chief had recently warned the nation that Pakistan was being attacked in different ways and the main objective of the enemy is to destabilize the country. Whether it is about Pashtun unrest or the targeted killings of Hazaras there is a foreign element. Indian former army chief once said in a live TV program that they (Indian) can only defeat Pakistan they start using Pakistanis against each other. Ethnically motivated unrest and targeted killings of any sect or community is not in the interest of Pakistan because someone bleeds, Pakistan herself bleeds.
It is pivotal for both civilian and military establishment to take some serious measures to ensure the security and safety of Shia community of Hazara. It is also important to expose all those behind these virulent attacks against Shias and other religious minorities in Pakistan.