A file photo of mourning members of the Hazara community. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
MWM’s Domki, when asked about the Hazara migration, vehemently rejects the suggestion that the majority of the people are leaving Quetta.
“Yes, people do move abroad in search of a better future, but it is an economical issue. You cannot link it with these incidents,” he states.
And yet, HRCP’s Hussain tells The Express Tribune that 20,000 people from the community have left for Australia and Europe.
“Additionally, around 30,000 people have left Quetta to live in Sindh and Punjab,” he says, adding that around 2,000 others are unaccounted for, their whereabouts unknown. Furthermore, 50,000 to 60,000 Shias who are not Hazara have also migrated from Balochistan.
Balochistan Home Secretary Akbar Hussain Durrani presents his own figures. According to him, about 500 to 1,000 families have migrated from Balochistan, but 90% of the Hazaras do not have enough resources to leave.
Ali Ahmed*, who worked as an agent assisting people with migration to Australia until two years ago, estimates that around 100,000 have migrated from Quetta due to the law and order situation. Many Hazaras have hurriedly sold their houses and other properties.
He says that even moving is not simple for the Hazaras. In many cases, they first legally travel to Malaysia, then on to Indonesia. Then, they attempt to enter Australia illegally.
In most cases, the Australian government detains them, questions them and allows them to apply for asylum.
The cost of travel from Malaysia to Jakarta is seven thousand dollars; from Jakarta to Australia an additional three thousand.
“Yes, they face hardships,” he says. “Many people lose their lives when boats capsize at sea. In fact, hundreds of hopeful migrants have died en route.”
According to Ahmed, the migration from Quetta began in 1998.
*Name changed to protect anonymity
Published in The Express Tribune, March 3rd, 2013.
COMMENTS (15)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1734717948-0/T-Edit-article-images-(1)1734717948-0-270x192.webp "jui f chief confident of madrassa bill resolution after talks with pm")
1734606611-0/Express-Tribune-(8)1734606611-0-270x192.webp "sindh govt announces public holiday")
1734587529-0/Express-Tribune-(1)1734587529-0-270x192.webp "pakistan to host another icc event")
1731295009-0/Untitled-design-(38)1731295009-0-270x192.webp "white supremacist nick fuentes claims assassination attempt at home suspect killed by police")
@Maria: Hagel had made that statement in 2011 when he was not part of government. On top of that he was not a member of the ruling Democratice party either. So it was just his opinion. Around the same time Hillary Clinton had made a definitive statement that she had seen no evidence to link India with the Baloch insurgency. After Hagel's statement came to light, US state department distanced itself from that statement, nor did Hagel reiterate it.
@Maria: "But all of the nonsense that goes on against Hazaras in Quetta is being done by Indian based agents in Afghanistan'
Maria - but LeJ has claimed the responsibility of recent two blasts killing more than 190 Hazara shia and injuring many more. So why don't you people wipe these indian agents out? Instead LeJ members are appreciated and supported silently/ overtly.. What is your view on it? Or do you think that LeJ is lying on taking the (dis) credit .of sending 190 Hazaras to est in peace for ever.. Can you enlighten us with your bright brain which , i am constrained to believe, lacks the grey matter .
i have been seeing lots of hazaras in Islamabad and Rawalpindi lately many are migrating here though many confuse them with being afghan refugees or balti people they are very friendly people and they say Twin cities harmony looks like quetta in 80s
@Vectra: hazaras are pro Pakistan and anti bla possibilities are they were killed by liberal fanatics BLA i mean first Pakistani female pilot was hazara
@suma: hindus are indian government symphathizers that is why they were expelled
It is true that around 100000 people from Quetta specially Hazara have migrated or left Pakistan. As I am one of them. I almost spent nearly US $7000 just to reach Indonesia.
@Maria: @Shaami:
You are deluding yourselves if you don't believe there's any ethnic and sectarian discrimination or terrorism within Pak. Most of overall religious extremist terrorism is indeed carried out locally, mostly by Pakistani, and some foreign, Wahhabi/Salafi/Deoband/Sunni extremists. Conspiracies and other beliefs otherwise only mocks any attempt at unity and betraying the trust of the minorities by not being honest and accountable.
@Marina:
I think this sort of biased rationalization and inaccurate view of reality and information about Hazaras' origins and their integration in Pak society is what marginalizes them where the majority fails to accept them as citizens of Pakistan, let alone as fellow human beings or community which needs help, highlighting the prejudice and bigotry among other ethnic and sectarian Pakistanis.
@Marina:
Quetta itself is a part of Afghanistan.
@ahmed41 Quetta is not the homeland of Hazaras. If you consult history, you would came to know that they are basically from Afghanistan. Infact, many of the persians from Iran have also settled in Quetta, following the footsteps of their brethren, due to the fact of common sect, language and features. Another distinguishing feature of hazaras is the aloofness from the rest of the masses residing in that city. Even during the peace they avoided intermingling with the locals, perhaps because of the feeling of ethnocentrism. It is due to this reason - you people might have observed - no other ethnic groups came forward to support them. As the Afghan migrants residing in Balochistan are categorized as refugees, so should be the hazaras. Afghanistan, as claimed by Afghan government, has returned to peace, all the refugees should be routed back to their homelands.
Is mass migration the answer ?
DOUBTFUL !!!!
Most Hazaras can not afford to leave. AND, why should they migrate ?
Why should they become illegal migrants ?
There place is in Quetta, in their home-land.
EVERTTHING POSSIBLE MUST BE DONE to make them stay in the motherland.
do you know waht it means to be an EXILE ?
@suma: But all of the nonsense that goes on against Hazaras in Quetta is being done by Indian based agents in Afghanistan. Did you not listen to US senator Hagel say as much? So if India is terrorizing Kashmiris and funding the killing of Hazaras to destablize Pakistan, they are wrong on both fronts.
@suma: Kindly dont generalize and dont try to Politically point score here and make it a religious issue. Also I dont know about Quetta but I have met many Hazara families in Lahore and In Upper Punjab and there is no problem whatsoever and no persecution at all there. Atleast I can give you a guarantee of Upper Punjab that there is no discrimination whatsoever on the basis of Religion or Race and that is the reason apart from Shias and Sunnis Upper Punjab have the highest population of Christians, Sikhs and Ahmedis in the country.
hindus from kasmir migrated from late 80s. Shias didnt help them either. Muslims move out of muslim country. But hindus move out of muslim state in a majority hindu nation. Irony. Looks like Jinnah's dream has come true now.
Domki is being thrifty with the truth.