Entire Pakistan shares the pain of Hazara community, PM Imran Khan says
Prime Minister Imran Khan met the families of the slain coal miners, killed on January 3 in a brutal attack in Machh, Balochistan, and members of the Hazara community to assure them of protection and swift justice.
In a video, PM Khan can be seen interacting with the families, as he told them that the would “not abandon” them. “Don’t worry, we will look after you,” he was heard telling one woman who told him her family had lost all breadwinners.
Special force to protect Hazara community
During his visit, PM Imran Khan announced that a “security forces cell” is being formed to protect the Hazara community and apprehend those responsible for the brutal attack.
The premier also clarified the delay in the visit and said that he fully informed of the situation and “constantly in touch with the ministers and security agencies” who were actively pursuing the case and looking after the developments. He added that they were not alone and the entire country shared the pain and suffering of the community.
‘We will take care of you’
“The whole nation continues to stand with you, as well as the provincial and federal governments, the security forces…I came here to tell you that we will take full care of our children and our sisters” PM Khan said.
He assured the Hazara community that the government and the entire nation stood with them. “This is what I came here to say. These are our kids and our sisters.” He also vowed that the security agencies will [hunt down those involved in the attack], adding that he was in constant touch with the security agencies.
Hazara miners laid to rest
The PM’s visit to Quetta came hours after the 11 coal miners were laid to rest at the city’s Hazara Town cemetery after a week-long protest during which the Hazara community and families of the labourers had refused to bury their loved ones unless the premier visits them to assure justice and protection.
The protests in Quetta as well as Karachi and Lahore were called off late Friday night after the government accepted all of their demands.
The government has agreed to form a high-level commission that will investigate the incident and also examine the investigations of militant acts against the Shia Hazara community in the last two decades.
Each victim’s family had been paid Rs2.5 million by the government as compensation and the government has also promised the Hazara families jobs and scholarships. The prime minister has reassured the community of the swift implementation of the demands.
Threat of sectarian violence
Speaking to the families after offering his condolences, the prime minister also expressed his concerns that India-backed terrorists are planning to trigger sectarian violence in Pakistan by killing Shia and Sunni scholars.
Lauding the efforts of intelligence agencies who managed to foil at least four terror plots, the premier said: “I have no doubt that what happened [in Balochistan] is part of a bigger game” by India to spread violence and fan the flames of sectarianism in the country. He also said that nearly 35 to 40 terrorists earlier associated with Lashkar-i-Jhangvi are now with the militant Islamic State group.