Balochistan CM visits Hazara Town, assures of progress in investigation of killings

Hazara community leaders lash out at govt, say they are tired of picking up bodies of their deceased

QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch visited grieving family members of the nine victims who were gunned down by unidentified assailants in the Hazarganji area of Quetta on Thursday, assuring them that arrests in the case would be made soon.

Baloch was in Hazara Town, Quetta, Saturday morning, where he told Hazara community at Wali-e-Asar Imambargah,  “I have come here to standby with the Hazara community and assure them complete support on the part of government."

The chief minister also said that progress was made in the investigations of the suicide attack which took place on the same day in Quetta and targeted the JUI-F chief.

“It was a sad day for us. We are going through a difficult situation in Quetta. There were three major tragic incidents in a single day on Thursday,” he said while talking to reporters.

Baloch added that law enforcement agencies launched a search operation in different areas right after the three major incidents and arrested several suspects.

“There has been progress in the investigation of targeted killings of members of the Hazara community and attack on Maulana Fazlur Rehman,” he announced.

However, he did not reveal any details of those arrested and which organisation they belonged to, and said, “We will soon reveal the details regarding the investigation into the Hazarganji incident.”

“I appreciate our forces that bravely launched a search operation and arrested them. They were busy in rescue and investigations.”

The chief minister further said the nation needs to make collective efforts against terrorism as it is impossible for the government to fight alone.

“We have increased the security in Quetta regarding the Muharram processions. There will be more security than previous Muharram processions,” he told the Hazara community.

Hazara community criticises govt 

Leaders of Hazara community criticised the government over what they said was its failure to protect the Hazara community, who are restricted to two neighbourhoods of Quetta.

Member of the Balochistan Assembly and leader of Majlis Wadatul Muslimeen (MWM) Sayed Raza Mohammed has said there is a visible increase in the presence of extremist groups in Quetta, who are responsible for targeting the Hazara community.

“We are fed up of picking up the dead bodies of our friends and family members. I could not attend the funeral of nine Hazara men who were mowed down by assailants in broad daylight in Hazarganji,” he told the reporters in Hazara Town.

“I could not go because it is impossible to talk to grieving families. I cannot even look into the eyes of these victims’ families,” Raza Mohammed told Baloch.

“Government officials come and assure us of arresting the culprits but later nothing happens," he said, adding, “We have been subjected to targeted killings and bombings right after we migrated here."