Quetta Hazara protesters refuse to end sit in
Staff Reporter :
In harsh chilly weather, for a third consecutive day, the Hazara community kept continued their sit in to mourn the killing of coal miners. The ethnic Hazara community had refused to end sit-in despite the assurance of federal interior minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed for arresting the killers of coal miners on late Monday night. “We will continue our protest until the Prime Minister Imran Khan arrives here”, Syed Raza Agha, the former Balochistan minister told visiting government delegation.
Negotiations failed
Negotiations between the Hazara community and Balochistan ministers failed on Tuesday evening. Balochistan finance minister, Mir Zahoor Buledi, Saleem Khoso, Mir Ziaullah Langove, Noor Muhammad Dumar and other high ups held thorough negotiations with protesters to end the sit-in. However, the protesters announced to continue sit-in and refused to end the protest.
Hundreds of women and children are also part of the protest in the Western outskirts of Quetta. Wearing traditional Hazaragi black shawls, the enraged women continue to raise slogans against the government. “We want justice, stop Hazara killings”, Zainab Hazara, a young girl demands with tears in her eyes. This is inhumane that terrorists have been targeting, she lamented.
Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed however assured that the Hazara community would be provided protection and that strict action would be taken against the perpetrators of the terrorist attack. The protesters also demanded the sacking of Balochistan government. However, Mr Ahmed said, “this demand cannot be accepted”. He said all demands except sacking of government would be accepted.
The enraged community decided to keep continue their protest despite chilly weather in Quetta and kept the dead bodies on the road to vent their anger. The number of protesters continues to grow. “Gradually people are coming and joining our protest”, Raza Agha said.
The Minister arrives in Quetta to convince protesters to end the protest
Federal Minister for Interior, Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed has arrived in Quetta on Monday evening and chaired a high-level meeting regarding the killings of coal miners. The Deputy Speaker of National Assembly, Qasim Suri also accompanied him during his visit.
Chief Secretary Balochistan, captain (R) Fazeel Asghar, Inspector General Frontier Corps, Syed Fayyaz Hussain Shah and other high ups briefed the interior minister about the Mach incident.
Hazara women stage sit-in against the carnage
Members of the ethnic Hazara Shia community have been protesting against the killing of 11 coal miners in Quetta’s Western outskirt. In chilly weather, women and children are also part of the protest demonstration. They have refused to bury their loved ones and demand the arrest of the killers of coal miners.
Gunmen had killed 11 coal miners in the Mach area of Balochistan in the wee hours of Sunday. The incident caused a national outrage on formal and social media with people demanding stern action against the perpetrators.
Quetta Hazara protesters refuse to end sit in
