As evident by recent back to back events of sectarian killings in the province; Balochistan is rapidly emerging as a sectarian terrorism hotbed. In continuation of this latest trend, 14 Shias belonging to Hazara community were shot dead in Quetta on Tuesday, October 4. In total, 25 people were killed during the week in different acts of violence across the province.
Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI), chief Imran Khan and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), leader Altaf Hussain termed the murder of the Hazaras as ¿sectarian terrorism– that needs to be curtailed.
Members of the National Assembly, including some from the ruling alliance, demanded the resignations of cabinet members and other senior officials for their failure to curb sectarian killings in Balochistan on Tuesday, October 4. On the other hand, Human Rights Watch (HRW) urged the government of Pakistan to provide protection to the Shia community residing in Balochistan, and hold accountable those responsible for targeted killings.
Week in Review
a) Acts of Terrorism/Subversion and Abduction
- In another episode of gruesome killing of Shias in the province, 14 people belonging to the Hazara communitywere gunned down whileseven injured in a firing incident near the western Bypass in Quetta onOctober 4. About 20 people were on board in a bus when unknown gunmen, riding motorcycles, intercepted the bus and sprayed bullets indiscriminately after entering into the bus. No one has claimed responsibility for the incident so far.[1]
- Moreover, two policemen were among four people killed in separate incidents of violence in Quetta on Wednesday, October 5. According to official sources, unidentified gunmen riding a motorbike assaulted a police van. One officer died on the spot. The injured officers and civilians were shifted to the Bolan Medical Hospital where one officer succumbed to injuries later on.
- In another incident, gunmen killed two civilians and injured two others in the Brewery Road area. The assailants managed to escape.[2]
- Two bullet-riddled bodies of Baloch missing persons were found dumped in the Murghab area of Turbat on Thursday, October 6, according to police officials. According to local police officials, passersby spotted the bodies and informed the police. The bodies were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital, where they were identified as Arfaat and Abdul Karim. According to sources, Arfat was whisked away while traveling from Turbat to Quetta one month ago and Abdul Karim went missing two weeks back.[3]
- Two unknown persons were killed and another sustained injuries in a landmine explosion at Pehlawagh area in Dera Bugti on October 6.[4]
- A government official was shot dead while his son sustained injuries on Kasi Road in Quetta on October 7, Daily Times reported. According to the police sources, section officer, Mohammad Idress was sitting along with his son in his shop, when unidentified armed assailants riding a motorcycle opened fire, killing Idress on the spot and injuring his son.[5]
- Four people were killed and six injured in separate incidents in Quetta and other areas on Sunday, October 9. Local administration recovered the mutilated bodies of two men from the Baghbana area of the Khuzdar district. Both the victims were shot in their head. In a separate incident, a child was killed and four others injured in a landmineblast in the Katal area of the Kohlu district. In another incident, two Frontier Corps personnel were injured as their vehicle hit a landmine in the Barkhan district. Meanwhile, unidentified men killed a popular trader Mujeebullah at Quetta Abdul Sattar Road.[6]
- Eight aid workers belonging to an international NGO were released on October 4 by the Taliban in Wana. Earlier, they were kidnapped in July from Pishin while returning from an Afghan refugee camp. The workers, who worked at two dispensaries in the camps, were shifted to Taliban stronghold in Waziristan, from where they were released on Monday night.[7]
b) Political Front
Aninvestigation teamon Tuesday, October 4, submitted its report to the Balochistan High Court (BHC) in connection with suo-motuhearing of the firing incident that killed 26 Shia pilgrims in Mastunglast month. However, the court expressed dissatisfaction over the report, saying that no concrete progress had been made in the case so far.[8]
Politicians including PTI chairman Imran Khan and MQM chief Altaf Hussain condemned the target killing of 14 ethnic Hazaras in Quetta on October 4. They labeled the murder of the Hazaras as sectarian terrorism that needs to be curbed. Mr. Khan, in a press release issued by his party office said that the responsibility for these deaths fell squarely on the current corrupt government who had failed in its duty to protect its citizens. He said that the government approach to deal with crisis has put integrity of the state in jeopardy. Meanwhile, MQM chief in its statement said that the state must prosecute the elements responsible for this heinous act.[9]
On October 4 members of the National Assembly, including some from the ruling alliance demanded the resignations of cabinet members and other senior officials for their failure to curb sectarian killings in Balochistan. Anger over the killings dominated proceedings of the lower house of the Parliament, even overshadowing what was expected to be another day of criticism of the government over its handling of the energy crisis and the floods in Sindh.[10]
Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Wednesday, October 5, directed the concerned authorities to regulate the visit of Shia pilgrims to Iran and ensure their protection. Malik was chairing a high-level meeting which was attended by federal interior secretary, provincial home secretaries and inspectors general of police (IGPs). The meeting reviewed the law and order situation in Balochistan.[11]
In wake of the recent incidents of sectarian violence in Balochistan, Human Rights Watch stressed upon the need to provide protection to the Shia community and hold accountable those responsible for targeted killings. The statement issued on October 5, came in response to a recent attack in which unknown gunmen riding motorbikes killed 14 Shias and wounded seven others.[12]
The arrest warrants of former provincial home minister, Shoaib Nausherwani were issued on October 8 in the Nawab Akbar Bugti murder case. The court issued orders on the request of a special crime branch team investigating the case. Advocate General Balochistan Amanullah Kanrani told the media that the government of Balochistan had directed the crime branch to obtain warrants for all the accused in the case.[13]
c) Economic Front
Residents of Musa Khel in Balochistan and Muzaffargarh in Punjab believe that their economic situation has worsened considerably in the past year. In Musa Khel alone, 90 per cent of households felt they were worse off. The Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement survey for 2010´2011 conducted by the Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS) includes data on perceptions from households in four provinces. In the survey, 43 per cent of households in Pakistan believe they are worse off than last year, 40 per cent said conditions had been consistent, while 16.5 per cent felt their economic situation had improved.[14]
[1] Sectarian attack: Gunmen kill 14 people in Quetta–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/266547/sectarian-attack-gunmen-kill-12-people-in-quetta/
[2] Quetta violence: 2 policemen among 4 killed–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/267552/quetta-violence-2-policemen-among-4-killed/
[3] Recovered: Bodies of Baloch missing persons found–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/268516/recovered-bodies-of-baloch-missing-persons-found/
[4] Four people killed in separate incidents Balochistan–, at http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/detailed_news3.asp?date3=2011%2F10%2F07&image2.x=0&image2.y=0#2
[5] Government official shot dead in Balochistan–, at http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/detailed_news3.asp?date3=2011%2F10%2F08&image2.x=0&image2.y=0#2
[6] Balochistan unrest: Two shot dead, two bodies found–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/270278/balochistan-unrest-two-shot-dead-two-bodies-found/
[7] Taliban release kidnapped aid workers–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/266254/taliban-release-kidnapped-aid-workers/
[8] Suo motu hearing: Investigation team submits report on Mastung attack–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/266602/suo-motu-hearing-investigation-team-submits-report-on-mastung-attack/
[9] Attack on Hazaras: Politicians demand state protect Shia community–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/266762/attack-on-hazaras-politicians-demand-state-protect-shia-community/
[10] Govt under fire: Outrage over Hazara killings in the National Assembly–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/267089/govt-under-fire-outrage-over-hazara-killings-in-the-national-assembly/
[11] Visit of pilgrims to Iran be regulated: Rehman Malik–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/267521/visit-of-pilgrims-to-iran-be-regulated-rehman-malik/
[12] Pakistan should protect Shia community: Human Rights Watch–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/267389/pakistan-should-protect-shia-community-human-rights-watch/
[13] Bugti murder case: Arrest warrant for ex-home minister issued–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/269647/bugti-murder-case-arrest-warrants-for-ex-home-minister-issued/
[14] Balochistan Musa Khel ¶ the capital of economic discontent in Pakistan–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/266217/balochistans-musa-khel–the-capital-of-economic-discontent-in-pakistan/