MWM holds sit-ins to protest miners’ killings

Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) staged sit-ins at multiple spots in Karachi on Tuesday, protesting the killing of 11 coal miners in Mach on Sunday.

The coal miners from the Hazara community were kidnapped and killed at the Mach coalfield of Bolan district, around 80 kilometres away from Quetta. Islamic State, also known as Da’ish, later claimed responsibility for the attack.

Protesting the killings, the MWM organised the main sit-in in the city at Numaish Chowrangi, where protesters held a candlelight vigil in remembrance of the slain miners.

Addressing the demonstration, MWM leaders vowed to continue the protest until the demands of the grieving families of the miners were met.

MWM’s Karachi chapter secretary general Allama Sadiq Jaffery called for action against banned outfits, which, he said, had the support of international agencies.

“Unless action is taken against them [banned outfits], there cannot be peace,” he said.

Pointing out that this was not the first instance when people of the Hazara community were targeted and killed, he decried the bloodshed perpetrated by the leaders of banned outfits.

“Why isn’t action taken against them in line with the law and Constitution?” questioned Jaffery, adding that the laxity of the relevant departments encouraged terrorists.

Protests were also held at Kamran Chowrangi, Power House Chowrangi and Abul Hassan Isphani Road.

Amid protests, traffic jams were witnessed on various roads of the city.

While traffic police personnel continue to restore the flow of traffic, they said they were facing difficulties in the absence of alternative routes.

They said that both tracks of the road connecting Sea Breeze Plaza to Gurumandir were blocked for traffic.

Similarly, Kamran Chowrangi was also closed for traffic.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 6^th, 2021.