Hazaras refuse to bury slain miners, sit-in continues on 5th day
Staff Reporter :
QUETTA: The ethnic Shia Hazara community has refused to bury slain miners and kept continued protest on the 5th consecutive day despite repeated requests by officials. Prime Minister, Imran Khan has urged the Hazara community to bury the dead bodies. Sources however said the Premier is likely to visit the Hazara protesters soon. “The Prime Minister would visit the protesters after security clearance”, a high-level Balochistan official told Quetta Voice.
However, the enraged community has kept the dead bodies of slain miners in the Western bypass area of Quetta despite chilly weather. Women and children are also part of the protest despite the freezing temperatures in the valley. “We have decided to continue the protest till the arrival of Prime Minister”, Syed Muhammad Ali, one of the protesters said.
The protesters have been chanting slogans against the government and police for their failure to provide them protection. “Stop killing of Hazaras”, Shazia Hazara, a young protester lamented. She said despite repeated assurances the killings of the Hazara community have not been stopped.
Gunmen killed 11 coal miners in the wee hours of Sunday
Gunmen kidnapped and killed 11 coal miners in Balochistan’s Mach area in the wee hours of Sunday. The incident prompted the enraged community members to bring the dead bodies on the road and refused to bury them.
Chief Minister Balochistan, Jam Kamal Khan also made an appeal to the members of the Hazara community to bury the slain miners. However, the protesters refused to end the sit-in and bury the dead bodies.
“This is very difficult to carry dead bodies in this harsh weather”, Syed Raza Agha
“This is very difficult to carry dead bodies in this harsh weather”, Syed Raza Agha, the former Balochistan minister said. He said the heirs of the slain miners want the Prime Minister to pay a visit to them. In Quetta, a shutter down strike is also being observed on the call of the traders’ community to mourn the killing of coal miners on Thursday. All shops and markets closed following the strike.
The ethnic Shia Hazara community has suffered the worst type of sectarian terrorist attacks in the past in Quetta.
Hazaras refuse to bury slain miners, sit-in continues on 5th day
