QUETTA: A complete shutter down and wheel-jam strike was observed in the provincial capital, paralysing the business activities on Sunday.
Stringent security measures were taken to maintain law and order, with the deployment of paramilitary troops Frontier Corps (FC), police and other law enforcing agencies in and around Quetta.
The strike was called by the Hazara Democratic Party (HDP) and was backed by the Balochistan National Party (BNP) and Jamiat-i-Ulema Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) to protest against the recent wave of sectarian targeted killings that left 18 killed in the last four days.
All the shops, markets, eateries and even chemists shops in Liaquat Bazar, Mezan Chowk, Abdul Sattar Road, Prince Road, Jinnah Road, Zarghoon Road, Brewery Road, Hazara Town and Marriabad remained closed.
The strike was observed partially in Saryab and the nearby areas as markets and shops were functional as usual.
It is pertinent to mention that half of the business community in Quetta observe weekly holiday on Friday while remaining shut their businesses on Sunday.
Police and security forces also booked over 200 people for violating the ban on pillion riding in the city.
Security personnel increased their patrolling in Quetta to restore order. However, panic and fear continued to plague the city as people preferred to stay indoors and most of the streets and roads presented a deserted look, with very thin traffic plying on the roads.
Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani presided over a high level meeting to review the law and order situation in the aftermath of targeted killings of Hazara community members.
Provincial Ministers, Inspector General Police (IG) Balochistan, Home Secretary and other senior officials attended the meeting, which was convened to devise a strategy to deal with the situation. The meeting was underway when this report was filed.
The HDP Chief Abdul Khaliq Hazara in his statement said his community was being compelled to pick up arms to protect its members from the targeted attacks.
COMMENTS (9)
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@uzma One thing i would like to ask, for 5 minute let's think it is genocide of shia not Hazara, Why any Shia of other parts of Balochistan is not targeted, Shia population is present in Baloch People & Pashtoon too, but No Baloch & Pashtoon shia is killed, Why!!! Why!!! Can you ans!!! I think it is purely genocide of particular Nation, who are Hazara
This is Shia genocide across Pakistan, not hazara genocide. It is not an ethnic issue, but a sectarian one.
You cannot divide Shia genocide into Hazara Genocide, Turi Genocide, or Balti Genocide. This will only serve to obsfuscate, and enable further killings.
by watching this kinds of movie by hearing about who have been killed innocent we only can cry and ask patience from God but this is not the way we people should do something about it, we cant put hands together and watch. we should have a gun,we should have something to defend ourself when we face them. we know its the government who is doing this but if we shot at least one of them then they will be scare. by doing worldwide protest nothing will be change we had lots of this protest we should do something different. Ya Rab ba Haqi Zahra khodet shafa'ate hamaye mara bokon khodet ba khanavadaye ke padar, shawhar awlad az dist dada sabre ajil befarma.
Thanks for only covering this story, thanks to ET. Please highlight this issue more because its not only hazara community, its target killing of only Shia peoples.
Picking up arms is no good solution. I remember what Hazaras did on April 4th, 2002. I was in Quetta. Curfew was imposed for a period of more than month. The terrorists attacked their jaloos and they burnt whole of the city and killed who so ever they found, including the chidren. There is no other way. Hazara's must decide against whom they are going to pick up the arms. If you are going to harm the peace loving Quettians you should know that you will lose their sympathies totally, which they are extending now.
Thanks ET for atleast giving coverage to this genocide of hazara community. Shame on media for hidding the facts.
I support the notion of Khaliq Hazara to pick up arms. The only solution to stop the massacre of Hazaras are picking up arms, because Hazaras has cried a lot in front of government, agencies, administration to give protection to their community but in vain. Now they are compel to take up arms and save their honour and dignity bcz now the enemies are even targeting the women.
this news is in main headline page ok because
balochistan news should also in headlines of pakistan as balochistan problem is pakistan problem