Shia Muslim women demonstrate on the third day of protests following Saturday's bombing in Quetta on February 19, 2013, against the bombing targeted Shia Muslims. PHOTO: AFP
The committee includes Federal Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira and Federal Minister for Political Affairs Maula Bux Chandio.
The committee will hold meetings with representatives of MWM and Hazara Democratic Party (HDP).
Balochistan Governor Nawab Zulfikar Magsi and Interior Minister Rehman Malik also reached Quetta to participate in the talks. Malik also visited Combined Military Hospital to meet the injured.
Earlier, the survivors of the bombing had declared their refusal to bury their loved their ones till the time a military operation was not launched to catch the attack masterminds.
To express solidarity with the Shia Hazaras in Quetta, several protests and sits-in across the country also continued after the government failed to fulfill the demands of the Hazara community.
In Lahore, many roads were blocked, including the GT Road and motorway interchanges, causing inconvenience to transporters. A sit-in was also being held at Shahdara Chowk.
The Majlis-e-Wehdat-e-Muslameen (MWM) members continued their sit-in outside Governor House in Lahore, demanding those involved in the blast to be arrested.
Streets in Karachi also remained deserted while private schools were closed. Several areas, including Ancholi and Ayesha Manzil, were blocked as protesters burnt tyres. Shia Ulema Council and MWM in Karachi said that they would continue with their sits-in till their demands are met.
Awami National Party’s (ANP) Ameer Nawab and Bashir Jaan came to the sit-in in Karachi to express solidarity with the protesters.
In Patel Para, protesters opened fire at the police after the funeral was held for one of the four people killed in last night’s firing in the area. The police resorted to aerial gunfire and shelling to disperse the protesters.
On February 16, a massive bomb ripped though a busy market in a Shia Hazara neighbourhood of Quetta, killing more than 80 people and injuring nearly 200.
COMMENTS (13)
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@HCare Shame on you for your ill-information. Ahlay Sunnat do not own Sipah Sahaba under the garb of "Ahlay Sunnat Wal Jamaat" (ASWJ) True Ahlay Sunnat ulema like Ashraf Thanvi, Sarwat Ejaz etc and political parties like Sunni Tehreek, JUP etc have clearly disowned ASWJ. Even a right-winger like Jamat-e-Islami condemn ASWJ. Recently, a representative of Barelvi Ulema & Mashaik Forum said on the face of Aurangzeb Faruqi that ASWJ should NOT refer themselves as Sunni. It hurts Sunni faith. So, Im referring to the terrorists of ASWJ, LeJ, TTP etc.
The killer, from undisclosed destination has admitted their heinous crime,are still free not in the ring of law of the land .roaming openly. and joking the write of the state,no crucial action is being taken to eradicate them from the bottom.
Baluchistan govcernor was right in his stand point expressed by him before the country's media few days ago,that relevant state agencies which were with the obligation of people's safety that is first duty of the state has failed to show their efficiency.
So it is high time to remove them forth with without any further delay. there is no need of irresponsible elements.
@Ali Zaid: shame on you, the people belongs to your faith are innocent, and if the people belongs to opposite faith, they are labelled as terrorists. leave this double standards,
I am embarassed and ashamed at the absence of political parties, especially the religious right wingers, from these sit-ins. Almost all the sit-ins are entirely made up of Shias, mourning for Shias. This is a time for Pakistanis, mourning for Pakistanis, but alas, the divisions in our society, based on sects, is now so ingrained that one sect doesn't even feel the pain of the other.
Even so, why are the so-called secular parties not participating by sending 100 - 200 people to each sit-in site? Where are the MQM, PTI, ANP, PML-N workers? Why are there only 100 - 200 people protesting at each location. While the mass populace continues to remain spectators [including myself], these parties can definitely mobilize a few thousand people between themselves to help support the sit-ins and show their solidarity at protesting against such inhuman acts of barbarism by the extremists.
This is the outcome of the past follies of the generals. Now they have come home to roost. Sad.
Over the last many years, the situation in Balochistan had been smoldering due to the acts of terrorism. If the government continued to sleep over this gory situation, there would be no time to control it and set things right, he said while asking the government to wake up and take immediate stock of the situation.
The absence of government’s writ was fast disappointing the people of Balochistan about the rulers who as such could become the first target of the agitated people if they ran out of patience and failed to get any other remedy to their problem.
Syed Mohammad Mosevi
I fear the rotten bodies. there is something called practicality . they need to be burnt or buried ASAP. Else lots of infections will arise . Poor defenceless children are at stake . Please do something .
Patel Para incidents has nothing to do with peaceful Shiite Nation. Three terrorists of ASWJ were killed by agencies at Patel Para and in retaliation these thugs started firing at the Police. ET please be clear when reporting. Thanks
The only effective solution will be for the Shia to hit back these terrorists. The corrupt politicians and generals will not do anything.
Can someone update on the Karachi Situation? what areas are closed? Are things getting worse? or will they stay quiet? At the office, to stay? or to go? Don't want to get stuck in Korangi