Community under assault: Six Hazaras killed in Quetta sectarian attack
In another targeted attack on the Shia community, six ethnic Hazaras were shot dead by gunmen in Quetta on Monday – a day which also saw the killing of four people in violence elsewhere in the restive Balochistan province.
Police said some Hazara community members were sitting at a shop on Prince Road when gunmen on two motorbikes opened fire on them, killing six people on the spot and injuring two others. The attackers managed to escape soon after.
“All the victims belong to the Hazara community. It appears to be a sectarian attack,” Qazi Wahid, the DIG Operations, told The Express Tribune.
Police and security forces cordoned off the area, while the casualties were shifted to Sandeman Hospital.
The sextuple murder whipped up tension in the neighbourhood as people from the Shia community took to the streets to protest against the government and law enforcers.
Protesters blocked Jinnah Road and forced shopkeepers to pull down shutters. Some weapon-wielding protesters harassed doctors and journalists near the hospital.
A reporter of Express News was injured during the chaos, while a passerby was hit by a stray bullet.
Four killed in separate incidents
In another incident, four people, including two settlers from Punjab, were shot dead in Turbat and Jaffarabad districts.
Police said armed men on a motorbike opened fire on two people standing at a bus stop in the Mand area of Turbat. The murderers managed to escape.
Police said it could be a case of targeted killing as the victims belonged to Lahore and Sargodha and were waiting for a Karachi-bound bus when targeted. The bodies were sent to their native towns after legal formalities.
Separately, two people were killed in an armed clash between two groups in Usta Muhammad town of Jaffarabad district. The clash occurred over the chopping of trees.
Two bodies found
Two bodies were found in Kalat district, about 145 kilometres away from Quetta.
Some passersby spotted the bodies dumped in a desolate place and informed the Levies force. The victims were taken to a nearby state-run hospital. “The bodies had multiple bullet wounds,” a source added.
Identities of the victims could not be ascertained by the time this report was filed.
Meanwhile, a human rights group, Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VFBM), staged a rally outside the Quetta Press Club to condemn the dumping of bullet-riddled bodies and non-recovery of missing persons.
Sister of Zakir Majid, a missing Baloch student, said she has been on strike for the past several months for the recovery of her brother. “I went to Karachi and Islamabad to protest, but my brother is yet to be recovered.”
“All I want is justice from the Supreme Court and other human rights organisations,” said Doctor Din Muhammad Baloch’s daughter.
They alleged that all Baloch missing persons are in illegal official custody and must be produced before the court if they are involved in any crime.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 10th, 2012.
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@Rehmat Ullah... the govt. , OUR security agencies and our own intelligence agencies in the target killings of hazara community as well as in the killings of baloachs people. THE FACT IS THAT THE CM BALOCHISTAN AND GOVERNER HAS NO AUTHORITY IN THE PROVINCE AND ALL THE THINGS ARE IN THE HAND OF FC AND FEDERRAL GOVT. THE BALOCHISTAN GOVT. IS JUST A TOY OR MODEL.. IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS THERE IS NO ANY OPPOSITION MEMBER IN THE ASSEMBLY. ALL THE THIEVES . CORRUPTAND INCOMPETENT MINISTERS ARE IN THE GOVT. THEY ARE BUSY IN LOOTING THE POOR PEOPLE WEALTH AND ENJOYING. IN THIS 10 DAYS ALMOST 15 HAZARA PEOLPE ARE GUN DOWNED BY THE TERRORISTS , INFACT IF WE CALL THE SECURITY AGENCIES TERRORISTS THEN IT WILL NOT BE WRONG BECAUSE ALL THE KILLINGS TOOK PLACE NEAR THEIR CHECK POST AND POLICE STATIONS. THE POLICE IS INVOLVED IN THE KILLINGS.. SHAM ON ZARDARI...........
SHAME ON GALANI.... AND SPECIALLY ON BALOCHISTAN GOVT. AND SECURITY AGENCIES...... THE SC IS ALSO SILENT OM THE REGULAR KILLING OF HAZARA COMMUNITY PEOPLE?????????????????????????????? JAGO JAGO JAGO JAGO................. NOW THE PEOPLE BEING COMPELLED TO PROTECT THEMSELVES BY THEIR OWN...........
very sorry for the killing of innocent hazaras and other people. this poor country doesn't has any rule of law. Hazaras are continuously being killed but every time we hear murderers managed to escape. i don't know hows it possible.
God bless America for the drone attacks on them, I pray to God for America to start drone attacks in Balouchistan.
Can some well-aware commentator throw some light on, "Who all are behind these killings of innocent Hazaras, extremely poor settlers from other provinces and dumping of dead bodies"? Foreign intelligence agencies? BLA? Talibans? Own intelligence agencies? Local Sardars in settling their own issues?
What a Pity that actually eight people were killed in recent acts of violence and 6 are mentioned because the other two that are gunned down are Punjabi Settlers and so they need not to be mentioned. Javaid and Qaisar were singled out from the traffic coach coming from Iran and they were killed only because they belong from Punjab as their Nadra Identity card states but our media fails to mention this incident again.
What going on in Quetta is so much painfull..... I wish that May Pakistan sustain the same map in future as of today.
Time has come to do a serious introspection by all sane Pakistanis.