‘Govt must stop treating people, minorities of Balochistan as aliens’

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party Vice President Senator Sherry Rehman, expressing concern over federal government’s policy of neglect and ignorance after the Quetta church attack, said the government should stop treating people of Balochistan and minorities as aliens.

She added that they need to be treated well and owned by the federal government.

In line with directives of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, a delegation of the party comprising Sherry Rehman, Secretary General Nayyar Hussain Bokhari and Senator Farhatullah Babar visited Quetta to express solidarity with the families of victims of the Quetta church attack.

“I am shocked and appalled that no one either from federal or provincial governments has visited the victims of the Quetta church blast. The Methodist Church where the suicide bombers attacked is still spattered with blood and broken glass, a silent testament to the tragedy that Sunday school congregation saw unfold, with women and children caught in the crosshairs of this terrorist attack,” said Sherry Rehman.

Sad to see how alone the people of Quetta feel. Especially the Christians who were attacked in Church on Sunday. They are loyal Pakistani citizens but no official has visited them from the provincial or federal Govt. Only the PPP Central and Local leadership down there tonight pic.twitter.com/saMcs9wkDZ

— SenatorSherryRehman (@sherryrehman) December 22, 2017

Talking to the locals, Senator Rehman said, “We have come here to assure this community that they are neither alone nor without help. Quetta has witnessed repeated attacks on non-Muslims and Hazaras, who live increasingly fragile lives in this border province, with little protection or concern shown by the government.”

The PPP leaders assured Bishop Sadiq Daniel and others that they will help in rebuilding their lives, taking care of the severely injured in Karachi if needed, and that no citizen of Pakistan should have to suffer such heinous discrimination based on their faith or sect.

Party’s minority wing leader Chaudhry Shan Salamat, PPP Balochistan President Ali Madad Jattak and other provincial office-bearers were also present on the occasion.