MWM, Shia councils call end to sit-ins as talks with government conclude

Shia councils to work together with the government to address Hazara community issues.


Mehroz Siraj February 19, 2013
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

Majlis-e-Wehdat-e-Muslameen (MWM), Unity Council of Quetta, Shia Ulema Council, All Pakistan Shia Action Committee have called for an end to the nationwide protests and sit ins condemning the Quetta bombing on Tuesday.


The Shia leader Allama Amin Shaheedi made this call while addressing the media alongside Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira.

Kaira was heading a six member government mission to Quetta which conducted successful negotiations with leaders of the Shia councils.

The Shia leader who represented the major Shia ulema councils at the media briefing, had also called for the survivors to start preparations for the burials of their loved ones. The final timing of the mass burials would be announced later, he said.

"We are thankful to everyone who participated in the overall negotiations and the protests," he added saying that the media and the  nationwide rallies played a major role in setting a new public discourse on the issues of the Hazara community.

Addressing the media, Kaira said that the government had resolved to learn from its past mistakes and that more attention would now be paid towards providing more security to the Hazara community.

He said that the government had resolved to permanently establish a three member committee that would oversee all the required work with regards to addressing capacity building measures within the Hazara community.

"The three people committee will liaise with the Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) and other authorities, so that the progress on the work required can be monitored," he said.

Kaira and Shaheedi also said that the operation that is currently underway started last night and was being conducted by the army.

"Army jawans are already taking part in the operations, which will go on till the time the terror infrastructure is not completely uprooted," Shaheedi said.

"If we can eradicate terrorism from Pakistan after this incident then this would be a victory for the martyrs,"  he remarked.

Shaheedi and Kaira also resolved to keep the media abreast with all developments so that the nation could be taken into confidence.

 

COMMENTS (13)

gp65 | 11 years ago | Reply

LeJ is primarily based in Jhang is it not? Wil imposing an army rule in Quetta (the demand that the protestors are making) help achieve their goal?

Anyway their resolute stand and courage are worthy of deep respect and their demand to get the problem stop - absolutely legitimate. The fact that people in other cities are also protesting to demonstrate their support is also really good. This is the heart of democracy i.e people being engaged and making the government respond. Just voting once every 5 years is not enough. It is also very heartening that these sit-ins are by and large non-violent.

Salute the protestors. I pray that these heartless killings stop.

gp65 | 11 years ago | Reply

@Sohaib Ahmed: Nice thoughtful blog. I had gone to your link earlier as well but it was in Urdu, so I could not read. Appreciate the effort to translate it in English.

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