Target killings: Another Hazara killed in Quetta
The deceased, who was identified as Mohammad Ali Hazara, was a watchman and was sitting outside a shop when armed men opened fire on him. The assailants fled the scene on motorbikes after the incident.
As many as four people from the Hazara community have been killed and one injured during the last 24 hours, while six people were targeted last Monday. Investigators termed the killing a sectarian attack.
The killing had taken place when over 4,000 members of the Hazara community were protesting outside the Governor House and Chief Minister Secretariat.
The incident caused panic in Liaquat Bazaar, Prince Road, Mezan Chowk, Jinnah Road and other adjoining areas. All stores, trading centers and restaurants in the area were closed after the incident.
A heavy contingent of Frontier Corps and police personnel reached the scene and cordoned off the area to prevent any untoward incidents from taking place.
Most of the affected areas remained deserted with very little traffic on the roads.
FC, Army to be called in if govt fails to curb violence: Governor
Governor Balochistan Zulfiqar Ali Magsi announced that the Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps (FC) will be called in Quetta to control the situation if civil administration and police failed to curb the ongoing incidents of targeted killings.
The governor made these remarks while meeting a delegation of Hazara Democratic Party (HDP) who took out a procession and staged a sit-in outside the Governor House and Chief Minister Secretariat. The delegation led by Ahmed Ali, Hassan Agha and others lodged their protest with the governor by saying that the Hazara people are being targeted and killed in broad daylight with complete impunity.
“The situation is going out of control. It is ironic that targeted killings are taking place on a daily basis despite the presence of paramilitary troops, Frontier Corps (FC), police and Balochistan Constabulary,” Magsi told ministers and senior officials who were present during the meeting.
“We will be compelled to deploy Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps in Quetta for maintaining law and order if government continues to fail in curbing the incidents of targeted killings,” he said, adding that this may lead to deteriorate the situation.
He also feared that the ongoing uncertainty and lawlessness will convert into a civil war if the current situation lingers.
He directed the concerned authority to convene a high-level meeting and launch an effective crackdown in order the break up the chain of target killers. “There is a huge cabinet and all of the MPAs are ministers but they are least interested in maintaining law and order situation,” he added.
He assured the delegation of Hazara community that he will take up the issue with Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani.
Earlier, the Hazara Democratic Party took out a procession from Alamdar road and marched through different parts of the city. The protestors raised slogans against the government and law enforcement agencies for their failure to curb the targeted killings of people belonging to Hazara community.
Protesters, after removing the barricades erected by law enforcement agencies on Zarghoon Road, entered into the high security zone and staged a sit-in protest outside the Governor House and Chief Minister secretariat.
The procession led by Hazara Democratic Party (HDP) returned to Alamdar Road peacefully following the assurance of Governor Magsi that he will take up the issue with the chief minister.
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@Noise: Pakistan is a country which is striving to maintain its precious existence from day one, not from one or two enemies but a multitude of many... In such a scenario all the things can't go smooth. It is widely accepted now that our Baloch brothers have gone neglected through out this time and to heal our brothers' injured feelings the state and even its institutions like army are doing whatever possible to overcome their sense of deprivation, even in the circumstances when we are engaged in fight on more than one front. Coming to your argument that our guardians are sponsoring all these riots and disturbances, its totally unreasonable and baseless. Who is fond of opening a new problem for itself... Pakistan is going through both covert and overt wars, you cannot say that our security forces failed in guarding us when they are clearly seen to be fighting for our security... All which is needed is that to avoid "the misleading noises" and put our faith in Allah who created this country and also support our security forces who are fighting day and night for saving this beloved country of us.
@G.A The Shia-Sunni rift isnt "so called" its real. And its army-supported groups like ASWJ and JuD and all those "good Taliban" that are widening it by killing Shias. You cant expect a people being ignored by the state to be patriotic, not when the country does not deliver on its primary responsibly, which is the protection of its citizens.
You have no solution except muzzling the voices of dissent while killers roam free. Like some Saddam Hussain's crony. If the state wants to stop the rapid buildup of hate towards the army and the agencies it better start doing it's job of protecting the citizens of its country, catching the terrorists for once and abandon its murderous strategic assets. Or else in the end people will start shooting any bearded-but-mustachless army officer in retaliation to Shia killing.
And if its actually Indian agents actually doing the killing than the army and ISI should just quit since they have failed and show themselves to be woefully incompetent, and all that money that they take from the public is for nought.
@imran: Your comment doesn't make any sense. To defend our country is everyone's duty.
@Tehreek-e-Insaf FATA:
Proving that Imran Khan & PTI different!!
It would have been enough to say ''PTI condemns................" this would have represented the whole lot of PTI as a party from leaders to workers
Again a "one man show" , PTI
Some body is their in the govt (DOUBLE AGENT), stopping the state to tell the Hazaras to get licensed arms to defend themselves and others are not being checked at route in and out and also keeping the communication system faulty.
Police,FC,Lavies forces for sure knows, who the killers are and sardars harbouring killer gangs,this unfortunate status and mindset in law enforcing agencies need no enemy to destroy our own country.
@G.A
you sound like the spokesperson of ISPR......
@Noise: In fact all the anti Pakistan forces have failed to achieve their "nefarious aim" through all these kill & dump campaign, target killings, and now creating so called Sunni Shia rift. I think its time for all the sane people to counter every propaganda against their security forces & state and join hands to eradicate all mischievous elements and their voices.
@ Tehreek-e-Insaf FATA, I never saw any press release of PTI condemning the ethnic cleansing of Hazaras. As a young generation of this country I was very much inspired by the PTI ... but not any more. Hazaras are getting butchered every day. Eighteen people including elderly, women and children have been brutally killed within two weeks period. The provincial capital seems like a jungle where a beast can hunt down any time he wants. Surely, there will be a civil war very soon if the matters are left unabated.
@Tehreek-e-Insaf FATA:
While welcomed, sorry if some may find the condemnation a little short, hypocritical or insincere.
The VP of PTI, Ijaz Chaudry, had no issue standing in solidarity with Wahhabi/Deoband extremists such as Ludhianvi and his anti-Shia ASWJ Sunni sectarian extremist organization which has links to terrorist L-e-J who have claimed the killings.
Stronger, direct condemnation and action must be seen before such a tweet or claim could be believed. All we see is PTI cozing up to anti-minority religious ideologues and bigots, legitimizing such regressive conservative groups as 'mainstream' in the name of 'national interest', at the expense of moderates and minorities and development.
The military and intelligence agencies are showing themselves to the the enemies of Shias. They have not only failed in the duty to protect their citizens but they themselves are are protecting sectarian killers. I think its time for the Hazaras and the rest of the Baluch Shias to side with the Bugtis and the other Baluch nationalists. Protesting before the state isnt going to do anything, not when the state itself is the enemy.
Imran Khan (& PTI) strongly condemn the government for failing to provide adequate security to our Hazara brothers in Quetta & express complete solidarity with the victims' families - < Tweet by Shafqat Mehmood, PTI Info Sec >
I can't believe what's going on in Quetta. It seems as Quetta is becoming a jungle n there is no law in bright day light. It would be stupid for Pakistan to it self a modern state and believe it or not it is not Islamic country any more, because Muslims will not do such terrable crime
the situation is beging for FC to be called. Please call them asap with full powers!
They have the power to stop it but instead they protest. Even though I don't like PML-N as whole. Good this about shahbaz sharif is that instead of whining, he gets things done, good or not. And about this target killings of shias and hazars, its obvious that it is the likes of bramdagh bugti etc trying to create unrest so the world turns against Pakistan.
Love for all hatred for none is the only way forward for Pakistan - any killing of any Pakistani is unnacceptable and the culprits must be bought to justice
Stop genocide of shias!!!.
Genocide continues.....
@KusmadarLEJ:
does magsi knows he is Governor of Balochistan!! and what is his Prime responsibility
if you ask CM Baochistan about target killing, his reply would be "target killing, target killing hoti hai. Koi kiya kar sakta hai''
Magsi Saab what are waiting for... Deploy them already... How many more dead bodies do you need?