Quetta sit-in reaches second day

Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Saturday telephoned Baluchistan Governor Zulfiqar Magsi and discussed prevailing law and order situation of the province.
During the telephonic conversation the Prime Minister directed the Governor to take all necessary measures to protect the lives of citizens.

PM Ashraf assured Governor Magsi that the federation was ready to assist the provincial government for the protection of lives and properties of the citizens.

It is pertinent to mention that over 100 people died and more than 150 were injured on Thursday when a stream of blasts hit Quetta. Meanwhile, relatives of the deceased continued protests whilst holding dead bodies and demanded the government to hand over matters to the army.
Banned organization Lashkar-e-Jhangvi claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Later,PM Ashraf instructed Baluchistan Chief Minister , Nawab Muhammad Aslam Raeesani to immediately return to Pakistan. The PM issued the instruction after a meeting with Federal Minister for Interior Rahman Malik who called on him at the PM’s House to apprise him about the latest law and order profile of Quetta.

The PM on the request of Baluchistan Government, ordered the Frontier Corps (FC) to extend assistance to the Civil Administration for maintenance of Law and order. The FC would exercise all powers of police for the purpose.

The PM also announced Rs One million for the families of all those who died in Thursday’s blasts. The PM also dispatched Pakistan Air Force’s C-130 to shift the injured of Quetta Blasts to Karachi for medical treatment.

The PM will meet a Hazara Delegation from Quetta during the next week. The Hazara/Shia community’s sit in entered its second day amid chilling cold to protest the targeting of their community in Thursday’s bomb blast. The protesters lashed out verbal abuses against the sitting government and the army.