‘Shia homes empty, graveyards full’

Denouncing the Quetta bombings and the continuous incidents of Hazara killings, civil society activists, political parties and religious parties assembled outside National Press Club and staged a protest which concluded at the Super Market.
Holding placards and pictures of the deceased, they protested against Quetta bombings on Thursday that resulted into killing of around 122 people of the Hazara community.
Chanting slogans against the government and religious fanatics, the protestors expressed their complete solidarity with the Hazara community and demanded the government to provide protection to the Shia community.
“Hazaras are Pakistanis like us, we all are Hazaras now, kill us all if you are unable to provide us security,” said Ferzana Bari, a human righsts activists.
She said that since the 1980’s, Hazara’s were being killed and no one was questioning the culprits.
Bari questioned the army chief that was it not the duty of the armed forces to protect the lives of Pakistani citizens.
“If yes, then why isn’t the army fulfilling its duty? How can unarmed citizens clash with the armed terrorists backed by agencies,” he said.
Demanding the military to take administrative control of Quetta, MNA Bushra Gohar of the Awami National Party said thousands, including women and children, had refused to bury the bodies of their loved ones but not a single provincial minister visited them.
Expressing her sorrow and grief, she expressed complete support to the Hazara community and asked the armed forces to ensure their protection and to end Hazara genocide.
The ANP leader also demanded Prime Minister Pervaiz Ashraf to reach Quetta along with his cabinet to negotiate with the thousands of protestors and to meet their demands.
“It’s time for action now,” Gohar added.
He noted that the ANP had initiated efforts to contact all the political parties and to form a single point agenda focused of countering terrorism.
Lashing at the federal and provincial government, she said both had failed in meeting their responsibility to protect Pakistani citizens.
MNA Akhunzada Chittan termed the Quetta bombings as a great loss for the country.
“His party laid many sacrifices fighting against the terrorists and would not tolerate terrorism in any circumstances,” he said.
Hasan Nasir of the Awami Workers Party protested over the continuous genocide and demanded to book all those behind the killings.
Leaders of the MWM asked the army chief to intervene into the issue take control of Quetta as the homes of Shias were now empty and their graveyards full.
Dr Ambreen Ahmed, Tahira Abdullah and other civil society leaders also criticized the federal and provincial government.