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The protests by the Hazara community against the killing of eleven coalminers in Machh area of Balochistan are intensifying. There have been protests and sit-ins in various parts of Karachi and all possible political efforts are being made to console them.
The families of the slain miners are protesting in freezing temperatures at a highway in Quetta for the past four days. They have also refused to bury their loved ones until they receive justice. The prime minister sent the interior minister and then two of his trusted aides – Ali Zaidi and ZulfiBukhari – to pacify them to no avail. The protesters remained persistent that they will not bury them until the prime minister visits them.
The prime minister assured the Hazara families that he was cognizant of their sufferings and shares their pain. He assured to visit them ‘very soon’ without providing any date urging them to bury their love ones so their souls can find peace. Balochistan Chief Minister also assured the Hazaras that the burial of the victims should not be conditional to the premier’s visit. The Harazas, however, have refused to budge from their demands.
Sectarian killings have plagued Balochistan for several years and the Hazara have been one of the worst victims and are often targeted by extremist outfits. The prime minister said that Pakistan’s neighbour was instigating this ‘sectarian terrorism’ but later attributed sectarianism as a legacy of our participation in the Afghan Jihad that led to the spread of extremist sectarian groups.
It is the responsibility of the state to protect minorities but the recent spate of violence from the demolition of a Hindu temple in Karak to the Mach tragedy have cast doubts over the writ of the government. The prime minister has been reminded of his statement back in 2013 when Hazaras were targeted and he asked ‘Where is the state’? Now it is his turn to answer and provide them justice.
The issue is being politicized and Maryam Nawaz has also announced to visit the Hazara families in Quetta and also urged them to bury their loved ones. While expressing condolences and sympathy with the Hazaras is appreciated, political parties should refrain from using the incident for political purposes. More importantly, the prime minister should not waste much time and head to Quetta and fulfill their demands of the persecuted Hazara community.
