Shia Muslim women stage a sit-in protest against last Thursday's twin bomb attack in Quetta, in Karachi January 14. PHOTO: REUTERS
An AFP photographer said families had started to take bodies of loved ones killed on Thursday to a local mosque to prepare them for burial.
The protest called by Qaumi Yakjehti Council (QYC) had continued for four days despite cold weather and rain, in which bereaved families sat on the roads alongside bodies of those who were killed in the blast. The protesters had claimed that they will not bury the bodies, which were slowly decomposing, till the government hands over Quetta to the army and imposes a governor rule.
Late Sunday night, the federal government declared a state of emergency in the province and removed the government led by Nawab Aslam Raisani. Governor Nawab Zulfiqar Magsi would be the chief executive of the province now.
After the announcement, the two-day long hunger protest by Hazara Democratic Party outside IG Balochistan’s office was also called off.
The relatives of the dead began with the funeral process after Zuhr prayers on Monday.
Pakistan saw the worst terror attack on Shias on Thursday when twin blasts in Quetta killed over a 100 people and left over 300 injured. After being continuously attacked by militant outfits, the Shia Hazaras went on strike across the country demanding the government to take immediate action.
Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf visited Quetta on the third day of the sit-in and held talks over the law and order situation. On the same day, President Asif Ali Zardari also announced of holding crucial talks on the issue.
Karachi protest ends
The protest in Karachi was also called off after the Quetta protest ended on Sunday.
More than 1,000 people had gathered near Bilawal House on Saturday in solidarity with the Hazaras and hundreds of them remained there until Monday morning.
“We are leaving now, as our demands have been accepted and our brothers in Quetta have asked us to end our protest,” said participant Shaukat Ali.
COMMENTS (26)
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The Hazara community taught all of us a lesson on how to stand for your rights, how to protest.
Polite but firm, dignified with steel resolve.
All the rest should take note, we really needed this lesson in how to protest.
@Jibran. Now you are asking too much. They all know who they are but nothing has ever been done about it so why do you think it will be any different now?
Can someone tell me why is it that these gangs don't get eliminated from Pakistan for good? They cause so much destruction, specially to Shia Muslims and after some protest, things cool down a bit and then the cycle starts again. We must stop blaming external forces and find out if the problems are mostly all internal. Do our security agencies get something out of this internal mess? They know who is doing this to the Shia community but after loud protests, these people go underground to come back stronger and causing more bloodshed. Please spare us Pakistanis. Now its Shia, later it will be other sunni sects.
Stay Strong my brothers and sisters.
All of the humanity is with you at this hour.
@Imdad Ali Shah-Dubai: come out of dubai and see what is happening in this country. people like you live outside and then see everything as fine in pakistan. what democracy has done to the people here.
Now with the dead buried, and governor rule imposed, will now the state functionaries, i.e., FC, police, intelligence agencies, and the judiciary, bring justice upon the perpetrators of these heinous crimes.
My Dear Sunni brothers,
Did you see that? Did you see how it were the Shias who united the whole nation in a matter of 3 days? People left their homes, slept on the streets, offered FAJR out on the roads during Dharnas. Shias did that without a single shot of bullet.
How come Sunnis never came out and protested this peacefully when Data Darbar was attacked? or when Shah Ghazi's Mazar or a Masjid was attacked?
Reality is proof that whatever we are being taught through are Mimbur is not working. Maybe we should start attending the Khutbas of a Shia Masjid since apparently they get it and we dont.
Wa'salaam.
There should be a UN led inquiry into Shia genocide in Pakistan, and the elements supporting this killing.
Love you all ,,,,,,,,,,,,,, my heart weeps for you ,,,,, may Allah curse the establishment of Pakistan and all those who are supporting terrorism due to any reason i.e sect-love
i feel sorry for all these muslim brothers,,but now the question arise what can we do to avoid all these loss,, we must have to think all above the differance of shea and suni,, we should think as a muslim for our country,,our rights and for our muslim brothers,, in upcoming election vote the right one by using your right,, and save pakistan from all these enemies,, SAVE PAKISTAN....
RIP.
Salute to our shia community. The set an example.
My heart boils for the deceased and their relatives. Its time we stand together as one and bring these perpetrators of sectarian killing to justice.
Dear Buttler we don't need the support of IK or anyone else we as a community displayed how peaceful protests can be carried out. Merely using this as an opportunity to raise you leader is appalling!
Thank you all mothers, sisters, children and men for your great courage, determination and patience at Quetta protest. Shame on shameless Raisani!
credit goes to the current democratic government as only in democracy such protest can be held and demand can be met..
The support extended by different sects was commendable! I salute the patience and perseverance of the protesters. But what about the root cause of the problem -LeJ?
Full credit to the courage shown by the Shia community and the soladirity shown by the people of Pakistan in support of them..................shame on the government and the security agencies who are oath and duty bound to provide security and good governance.
Congrats! You have been, once again promised to be given security. But?..Is it just the matter of Balochistan or Shia now? Aren't people being killed brutally on daily basis else where in the county? What about other parts of Pakistan? What about other lives? Aren't they valuable too? Is this all we should fight for? Are our all needs met? Will there be no more bloodshed in this country? Won't we lose our dead ones again? Won't families shatter again? Have we reached our goal? Have we got justice? Have we got victory? The answer to all these is NO. It may be a start. But we have long way to go. This incident is the sign of power a common people posses that no Government, No influential person can break! We should learn from this success.! We are one! We all are Pakistani, Muslim and Human. Lets stay united under this flag of humanity and hope for nothing but betterment in this country. May Allah guide us to the right path and help us to make our country better and safe to live in. Ameen.
We are with you and Imran Khan sitting with u makes the whole Pakistan proud
This the victory of Hussainyat! People who think shias are not Muslim would think twice now as nobody has ever seen such a display of unity of shias in such a peaceful way.
Brilliant example of peaceful protest. Respect......
God bless Shias, they have the support of the whole international community.
My heart goes down thinking how the families would be feeling now that their loved ones will finally be leaving them forever. R.I.P. all martyrs
Shame Shame on Zardari,Raja Rental,Nawaz, and govt of Pakistan.