BY TOM HUSSAIN
McClatchy Newspapers
KARACHI, PAKISTAN -- The P226, a 9 mm semiautomatic pistol made by the weapons manufacturer SIG Sauer, is a favorite of law enforcement agencies and militaries worldwide, from the FBI and Navy SEALs to NATO troops in Afghanistan and police departments across the United States.
But the shipment of 232 pistols that arrived in the Pakistani city of Quetta in January was intended for a different recipient: Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, an al-Qaida affiliate that's accused of targeting Shiite Muslims in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The group used some of the pistols in deadly attacks and distributed others to favored militants - sort of a jihadi version of a corporate bonus - according to militants and criminals in Quetta.
Even more troublesome to U.S. officials, however, is the purported source. A Lashkar-e-Jhangvi militant who received two of the pistols, and who gave his name only as Raees, told McClatchy Newspapers that smugglers had purchased the shipment from a gang of corrupt Afghan National Army soldiers, who'd pilfered them from a NATO armory in Afghanistan.
The prospect that al-Qaida affiliates are using the same weapons as the SEAL team that killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden last May illustrates the ease with which Pakistani criminal and militant gangs draw on a network of gunrunners that operates from neighboring Afghanistan and Iran to procure a wide range of Western, Russian and Chinese weapons.
In Washington, a senior U.S. defense official said that while he couldn't confirm the report, it was troublesome to consider that the U.S.-led NATO coalition's weapons were making their way into al-Qaida hands.
"But it's more worrying that they continue to get resourced at a level that would allow them to make purchases like that," said the official, who wasn't authorized to be quoted by name.
The weapons pipeline is fraught with shadowy deal-making and persistent danger - McClatchy correspondents were detained twice while reporting this story - but it's served the militants well. Pakistani human rights organizations calculated that 89 people were killed last year alone in sectarian attacks in the western province of Baluchistan, including 63 in the provincial capital of Quetta. In the deadliest attack, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi militants hijacked a bus that was carrying Shiite pilgrims to neighboring Iran in September, executing 26 of them.
The weapons have contributed to a worsening crisis in remote Baluchistan, where a variety of armed groups hold sway. The sparsely populated terrain of scrubland and hills, ruled mostly by tribal chiefs with little interference from the government, has allowed nationalist insurgents to wage an eight-year rebellion against vastly superior Pakistani security forces - and makes it ideal for smuggling.....Continue Reading...
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Monday, April 9, 2012
Six (Hazaras) killed in Quetta sectarian attack
By Mohammad Zafar
QUETTA: Six people belonging to the Hazara community were killed and three others were injured when armed men opened fire at a cobblers shop on the Prince Road in the provincial capital on Monday night.
Police termed the incident a case of sectarian violence and started investigation.
According to official sources, the shoemakers were sitting inside their shop when assailants on two motorcycles opened fire on them with automatic weapons, killing six of them instantly while injuring three others.
The bodies and injured were taken to Sandeman Hosptial. “At least six dead bodies and three injured were brought to the hospital,” doctors at the hospital said.
The deceased were identified as Mama Karim, Muhammad Hassan, Saeed Ahmed, Qurban Ali, Nadir Ali and Shabir Hussain while injured as Yunus, Lala Musa and Ustad Hadi.
Score of people belonging to the Hazara community reached the hospital and raised slogans against the government and law enforcement agencies for their failure to protect life and property of citizens.
Quetta Police Deputy Inspector General Qazi Wahid said that all the victims belonged to Hazara community and it appeared to be a case of sectarian target killing. A group of angry people blocked the Jinnah Road and forcibly closed shops in the area to mark the protest. Some people armed with sophisticated weapons harassed the doctors and journalists and surrounded the hospital.
Daily Times
QUETTA: Six people belonging to the Hazara community were killed and three others were injured when armed men opened fire at a cobblers shop on the Prince Road in the provincial capital on Monday night.
Police termed the incident a case of sectarian violence and started investigation.
According to official sources, the shoemakers were sitting inside their shop when assailants on two motorcycles opened fire on them with automatic weapons, killing six of them instantly while injuring three others.
The bodies and injured were taken to Sandeman Hosptial. “At least six dead bodies and three injured were brought to the hospital,” doctors at the hospital said.
The deceased were identified as Mama Karim, Muhammad Hassan, Saeed Ahmed, Qurban Ali, Nadir Ali and Shabir Hussain while injured as Yunus, Lala Musa and Ustad Hadi.
Score of people belonging to the Hazara community reached the hospital and raised slogans against the government and law enforcement agencies for their failure to protect life and property of citizens.
Quetta Police Deputy Inspector General Qazi Wahid said that all the victims belonged to Hazara community and it appeared to be a case of sectarian target killing. A group of angry people blocked the Jinnah Road and forcibly closed shops in the area to mark the protest. Some people armed with sophisticated weapons harassed the doctors and journalists and surrounded the hospital.
Daily Times
'They won't get off this ship. They want Australia to help'
Michael Bachelard
April 10, 2012 - 10:27AM
The asylum seekers are refusing to disembark. Photo: Reuters
The 120 Afghani men and boys refusing to get off the ship that rescued them off the coast of Indonesia have pleaded with Australian authorities to help them.
In an interview by phone with this website, one of the refugees, Liaqat Ali Amini, said the people, all ethnic Hazaras, were frightened of the Indonesian police and of being put in “prison”.
“People are afraid of Indonesian police, they take away our money and mobile phones, and put behind bars, and we have no contact with our family,” Mr Amini said.
Advertisement: Story continues below
“We don't want to get off. People say we want to get to Australia, we were in international waters when we suffered a lot from this sinking boat.
“Our destination is not Indonesia. We came to Australia. People are on this ship, and they won't get off this ship and they want Australia to help.”
Mr Amini said four of the asylum seekers were just 12 years old and 25 were aged under 18.
Mr Amini said the group had boarded the boat late on Saturday and headed for Christmas Island. But not all the engines worked and, “They were broken very soon”.
Indonesian authorities have confirmed that they had received a distress call from the boat which was sinking in the Sunda Strait south of Java at about 5.30am on Sunday. They called in the nearest ship, the Hermia, a Singapore-flagged oil tanker.
Mr Amini said they had made it to international waters, but that, as they foundered, the wind had blown them back into Indonesian waters.
Now, however, they are in dock in the port of Merak, western Java.
Mr Amini asked for help to speak to the immigration department in Australia.
“I feel in Australia I will get blessed and I see many people from my tribe are trying to get to Australia and they are getting to Australia and seeking asylum,” Mr Amini said.
He said he came from Ghazni in the mountains of Afghanistan, and that his life had been threatened by insurgents.
He had been hoping for many years to come to Australia, but had only recently raised the $US20,000 fee to pay the people smuggler, whom he identified as Haji.
They had come by plane to Bangkok, then by road and boat to Malaysia and then Indonesia. They waited for a boat for about two months in Bogor, just outside Jakarta.
Mr Amini said he had heard in Indonesia about Australia's change in detention policy, in which asylum seekers were now being kept in the community.
However, his desire to come to Australia had long predated the policy change.
National Times
April 10, 2012 - 10:27AM
The 120 Afghani men and boys refusing to get off the ship that rescued them off the coast of Indonesia have pleaded with Australian authorities to help them.
In an interview by phone with this website, one of the refugees, Liaqat Ali Amini, said the people, all ethnic Hazaras, were frightened of the Indonesian police and of being put in “prison”.
“People are afraid of Indonesian police, they take away our money and mobile phones, and put behind bars, and we have no contact with our family,” Mr Amini said.
Advertisement: Story continues below
“We don't want to get off. People say we want to get to Australia, we were in international waters when we suffered a lot from this sinking boat.
“Our destination is not Indonesia. We came to Australia. People are on this ship, and they won't get off this ship and they want Australia to help.”
Mr Amini said four of the asylum seekers were just 12 years old and 25 were aged under 18.
Mr Amini said the group had boarded the boat late on Saturday and headed for Christmas Island. But not all the engines worked and, “They were broken very soon”.
Indonesian authorities have confirmed that they had received a distress call from the boat which was sinking in the Sunda Strait south of Java at about 5.30am on Sunday. They called in the nearest ship, the Hermia, a Singapore-flagged oil tanker.
Mr Amini said they had made it to international waters, but that, as they foundered, the wind had blown them back into Indonesian waters.
Now, however, they are in dock in the port of Merak, western Java.
Mr Amini asked for help to speak to the immigration department in Australia.
“I feel in Australia I will get blessed and I see many people from my tribe are trying to get to Australia and they are getting to Australia and seeking asylum,” Mr Amini said.
He said he came from Ghazni in the mountains of Afghanistan, and that his life had been threatened by insurgents.
He had been hoping for many years to come to Australia, but had only recently raised the $US20,000 fee to pay the people smuggler, whom he identified as Haji.
They had come by plane to Bangkok, then by road and boat to Malaysia and then Indonesia. They waited for a boat for about two months in Bogor, just outside Jakarta.
Mr Amini said he had heard in Indonesia about Australia's change in detention policy, in which asylum seekers were now being kept in the community.
However, his desire to come to Australia had long predated the policy change.
National Times
Raisani sacks seven officials over killing of six Shias
Paramedics give medical treatment to an injured Shia Muslim man at a hospital in Quetta on Monday. – Photo by AFP
QUETTA: Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani on Monday sacked seven police officials on duty when unidentified gunmen shot dead six Shia Muslims in Quetta, DawnNews reported.
According to police sources, 17 suspects have also been arrested in connection with killing of Hazara community earlier today.
The drive-by shooting took place at the busy Prince Road in the Balochistan capital.
“Two gunmen riding a motorbike opened fire on a shoe store killing four Shia Muslims and wounding three others,” senior police official Muhammad Tariq told AFP.
“It was most probably a sectarian incident but the police are investigating,” he said.
Another police official, Jehangir Shah, also confirmed the incident and the four casualties.
Later, two out of three injured succumbed to their injuries in a hospital.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but Balochistan is rife with religious militancy and sectarian violence between majority Sunnis and minority Shia Muslims, and a regional separatist insurgency.
Hundreds of civilians have been killed since Baloch rebels rose up in 2004 against the federal government, demanding political autonomy and a greater share of profits from the oil, gas and mineral resources in the region.
DAWN NEWS
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Friday, April 6, 2012
(A must read); In Pakistan, the Hazaras Are Punished Over Race and Religion
Protestors killed at least one policeman and burnt several official buildings last week in renewed demonstrations in the capital of Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province following the killing of five members, including a woman, from the Hazara ethnic minority community. The attackers are believed to be connected to Sunni terrorist group, the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, which has previously accepted responsibility for similar attacks that have killed hundreds of innocent Hazaras.
Balochistan is notoriously known among U.S. officials as a safe haven for the top Taliban leadership; fewer Americans know about the gas rich region because of Pakistan's widespread violation of human rights there in response to a nationalist movement which aims to create a separate homeland for the ethnic Baloch. However, what is not reported in the U.S. media is the systematic cleansing of a tiny minority group known as the Hazaras inside Balochistan by fundamentalist Islamic groups. These underground outfits were historically created by Pakistan's security establishment and still continue to enjoy their covert sponsorship....Continue Reading...
Balochistan is notoriously known among U.S. officials as a safe haven for the top Taliban leadership; fewer Americans know about the gas rich region because of Pakistan's widespread violation of human rights there in response to a nationalist movement which aims to create a separate homeland for the ethnic Baloch. However, what is not reported in the U.S. media is the systematic cleansing of a tiny minority group known as the Hazaras inside Balochistan by fundamentalist Islamic groups. These underground outfits were historically created by Pakistan's security establishment and still continue to enjoy their covert sponsorship....Continue Reading...
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Who kills Hazaras in Pakistan and why?
At least 12 Hazaras have so far been killed in four separate killing incidents within last seven days in Quetta City, Pakistan. Two of them were murdered on Tuesday 3rd, April 2012 by terrorists while nine Hazaras including a woman and a minor girl were killed in two separate killing incidents on March 29th, 2012. The first one took place, when a Suzuki pick-up that was on its way to the city centre from Hazara Town was ambushed by gunmen in the morning which resulted in the death of six Hazaras while five other Hazaras were reported to have received severe bullet injuries; one of them was stated to be very critical.
The killing of the day doesn't stop here; later on the same day, three more young Hazaras are killed by the police soon after the incident when they were protesting for the capture of the terrorists. Last Monday, March 26th, 2012, unidentified gunmen opened indiscriminate firing on the shop of Hazara on Sabzal Road Quetta, which resulted in the death of a Hazara ironsmith while his co-worker (Hazara) received serious bullet injuries.
The killing, the kidnapping and the firing on the shops of Hazaras have become the daily routine in Quetta City, Pakistan. The killing of one or two Hazaras doesn't make news on the local and national press in Pakistan, it needs at least five Hazaras to get killed to be on the press in Pakistan. Now it's been more than ten years, Hazaras are collecting their dead bodies from the different parts of Quetta city and almost 700 Hazaras have so far been killed since 2004.
The anti-Shia religious militant extremists mainly Lashkar-e-Jangvi publicly claims the killings of Hazaras and has vowed to turn Quetta city into the graveyard of around six hundred thousand Hazaras. After every killing incident, the terrorists walk away easily and the government seems unwilling to capture the terrorists as Hazaras are not a political or financial might in Pakistan.
For the last ten years, no single terrorist has been brought to justice, which is a matter of the great concern for the Hazara community. Why these terrorists are not captured and brought to justice is one of the questions, which has made the Hazara community believe that the state secret agencies are directly involved in the killing of Hazaras and the present civil government is indirectly. Why does Hazara community think so, the following reasons may well justify.
As mentioned earlier, that for the last ten years, almost 700 hundred Hazaras have so far been killed and the present government doesn't show any responsibility to catch terrorists involved in the killing of Hazaras; rather it is imposing restriction on the movement of Hazara community around the Quetta City.
The two high profile terrorists Usman Saifullah Kurd and Shafeeq Rind belonging to anti-Shia Lashkar-i-Jhangvi organization, who were believed to be the killers of Hazaras, mysteriously escaped from a very well-organized jail of Anti-Terrorist Force in Quetta Cantonment area where no one can go without a pass, implying that their escape was facilitated by the security agencies.
The present Governor of Balochistan, Nawab Zulfiqar Ali Magsi quoted his Inspector General of Police (IGP) saying, "Whenever police arrested any criminal, he received calls from high ups for his release" while, Home Minister for Balochistan Mir Zafarullah Zehri on a point of order, informed the assembly that "he had clues about those involved in the target killings but he was helpless.
He said, "If the elected representatives were given responsibilities, the situation might improve" are enough to prove the bitter reality about the reach of the terrorist organizations into the highest ranks of Pakistani Government. Both the governor and the home minister publically announce that the government is helpless and doesn't have authority to get control on the terrorists and to put an end to the terrorist activities going on against the Hazara Community.
Last September and October 48 Hazaras were taken off the bus/wagon in different incidents, were lined up and killed, while Chief Minister of Balochistan Aslam Raisani, responding a question from a journalist in Islamabad made fun of Hazaras by offering to send a truckload of tissue papers to the bereaving families. Another Pakistan People's Party parliamentarian from the area — Ayatullah Durrani — suggested on a television show that the victim community benefits by getting Australian asylum.
Despite being heavy presence of the police, Levies Force and Frontier Corps check posts in and around the Quetta city, the terrorist walk freely in the city and kill any Hazara, wherever they find in the city even in most cases just 50 meters away from the security check posts.
A Video of the killings of the Hazaras has also been released on the Youtube and Facebook in order to terrorize Hazara community in Quetta and all around the world.
And moreover, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) says that it is aware of militant outlets which are said to be financed by the ISI and trained with the collaboration of Frontier Corps and Military Intelligence in Balochistan. Their main tasks include counter-insurgency, spread of Talibanization, sectarian violence, Killings of Hazaras and Shias, attacks on NATO supply routes and targeting journalists and lawyers.
Now the question arises as why the state secret agencies support religious terrorists in Pakistan especially in Balochistan?
Soviet presence in Afghanistan during 80's helped the intelligence agencies especially ISI to establish numerous religious schools (Madrasas) alongwith training centres throughout Pakistan to use Mojahidin against Soviet invasion. Knowing the significance of Mujahidin and the strategic area, General Ziaulhaq the then president of Pakistan on the pretext of Afghanistan war used the religion and religious militants in Kashmir to pressurize India to negotiate on Pakistan's terms and conditions.
Getting Soviet out of Afghanistan by force the intelligence agencies got enormous confidence and encouragement to rely on the performance of the religious militants for their local and regional political ends. The success story of Afghan-war brought religious militant groups closer to the intelligence agencies in Pakistan.
Later on, General Zia promoted extreme religious thinking and religious militant groups within the country especially in Balochistan, Sindh and Khaber Pakhtoonkha provinces to counter the nationalist political parties.
It seems impossible for the secret agencies in Pakistan to detach themselves from the religious militant groups, as they help them in accomplishing local and regional political purposes. The intelligence agencies know well how to use the religious militant groups in Indian Kashmir and Afghanistan for their political ends. That's why the military ruling class engage civilians into political and sectarian violence in order to prolong its rule over the country.
Once again, the present military higher ups are following the same route to promote religious extremists and underground religious militants to not only terrorize the politicians throughout the country but also planning to use them in Afghanistan especially after 2014 with full force. The present Pakistani establishment has congregated all the extreme religious and militant groups including Taliban under one umbrella by the name of "Difa-e-Pakistan Council" under the leadership of former ISI Chief General Hameed Gul to use them for Afghanistan after 2014.
Now, you might have a question, as why Hazaras are being killed in Quetta City by the extreme religious militant groups, the answer is very simple. After 9/11 when international forces attacked on Taliban in Afghanistan, Hazaras in Afghanistan along with other ethnic minorities fully supported the international community to get the Taliban out of Afghanistan.
When Taliban couldn't fight with international forces and Hazaras in Afghanistan, they moved back to Pakistan and they started killing Pakistani Hazaras for being Shia who have been living in Pakistan since 1890. And one thing more, in Quetta City, Hazara are dominantly Shia and it is very easy to target them just because of their Mongoloid features and physical attributes. Since the declaration of religious militants as "strategic asset" by the ruling elites of Pakistan, the religious militants groups like Lashkar-e-Jangvi and Taliban have been given free hands to do anything they like.
The writer is a regular columnist and he can be reached at toyounasat@yahoo.co.uk
Daily Outlook Afghanistan
The killing of the day doesn't stop here; later on the same day, three more young Hazaras are killed by the police soon after the incident when they were protesting for the capture of the terrorists. Last Monday, March 26th, 2012, unidentified gunmen opened indiscriminate firing on the shop of Hazara on Sabzal Road Quetta, which resulted in the death of a Hazara ironsmith while his co-worker (Hazara) received serious bullet injuries.
The killing, the kidnapping and the firing on the shops of Hazaras have become the daily routine in Quetta City, Pakistan. The killing of one or two Hazaras doesn't make news on the local and national press in Pakistan, it needs at least five Hazaras to get killed to be on the press in Pakistan. Now it's been more than ten years, Hazaras are collecting their dead bodies from the different parts of Quetta city and almost 700 Hazaras have so far been killed since 2004.
The anti-Shia religious militant extremists mainly Lashkar-e-Jangvi publicly claims the killings of Hazaras and has vowed to turn Quetta city into the graveyard of around six hundred thousand Hazaras. After every killing incident, the terrorists walk away easily and the government seems unwilling to capture the terrorists as Hazaras are not a political or financial might in Pakistan.
For the last ten years, no single terrorist has been brought to justice, which is a matter of the great concern for the Hazara community. Why these terrorists are not captured and brought to justice is one of the questions, which has made the Hazara community believe that the state secret agencies are directly involved in the killing of Hazaras and the present civil government is indirectly. Why does Hazara community think so, the following reasons may well justify.
As mentioned earlier, that for the last ten years, almost 700 hundred Hazaras have so far been killed and the present government doesn't show any responsibility to catch terrorists involved in the killing of Hazaras; rather it is imposing restriction on the movement of Hazara community around the Quetta City.
The two high profile terrorists Usman Saifullah Kurd and Shafeeq Rind belonging to anti-Shia Lashkar-i-Jhangvi organization, who were believed to be the killers of Hazaras, mysteriously escaped from a very well-organized jail of Anti-Terrorist Force in Quetta Cantonment area where no one can go without a pass, implying that their escape was facilitated by the security agencies.
The present Governor of Balochistan, Nawab Zulfiqar Ali Magsi quoted his Inspector General of Police (IGP) saying, "Whenever police arrested any criminal, he received calls from high ups for his release" while, Home Minister for Balochistan Mir Zafarullah Zehri on a point of order, informed the assembly that "he had clues about those involved in the target killings but he was helpless.
He said, "If the elected representatives were given responsibilities, the situation might improve" are enough to prove the bitter reality about the reach of the terrorist organizations into the highest ranks of Pakistani Government. Both the governor and the home minister publically announce that the government is helpless and doesn't have authority to get control on the terrorists and to put an end to the terrorist activities going on against the Hazara Community.
Last September and October 48 Hazaras were taken off the bus/wagon in different incidents, were lined up and killed, while Chief Minister of Balochistan Aslam Raisani, responding a question from a journalist in Islamabad made fun of Hazaras by offering to send a truckload of tissue papers to the bereaving families. Another Pakistan People's Party parliamentarian from the area — Ayatullah Durrani — suggested on a television show that the victim community benefits by getting Australian asylum.
Despite being heavy presence of the police, Levies Force and Frontier Corps check posts in and around the Quetta city, the terrorist walk freely in the city and kill any Hazara, wherever they find in the city even in most cases just 50 meters away from the security check posts.
A Video of the killings of the Hazaras has also been released on the Youtube and Facebook in order to terrorize Hazara community in Quetta and all around the world.
And moreover, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) says that it is aware of militant outlets which are said to be financed by the ISI and trained with the collaboration of Frontier Corps and Military Intelligence in Balochistan. Their main tasks include counter-insurgency, spread of Talibanization, sectarian violence, Killings of Hazaras and Shias, attacks on NATO supply routes and targeting journalists and lawyers.
Now the question arises as why the state secret agencies support religious terrorists in Pakistan especially in Balochistan?
Soviet presence in Afghanistan during 80's helped the intelligence agencies especially ISI to establish numerous religious schools (Madrasas) alongwith training centres throughout Pakistan to use Mojahidin against Soviet invasion. Knowing the significance of Mujahidin and the strategic area, General Ziaulhaq the then president of Pakistan on the pretext of Afghanistan war used the religion and religious militants in Kashmir to pressurize India to negotiate on Pakistan's terms and conditions.
Getting Soviet out of Afghanistan by force the intelligence agencies got enormous confidence and encouragement to rely on the performance of the religious militants for their local and regional political ends. The success story of Afghan-war brought religious militant groups closer to the intelligence agencies in Pakistan.
Later on, General Zia promoted extreme religious thinking and religious militant groups within the country especially in Balochistan, Sindh and Khaber Pakhtoonkha provinces to counter the nationalist political parties.
It seems impossible for the secret agencies in Pakistan to detach themselves from the religious militant groups, as they help them in accomplishing local and regional political purposes. The intelligence agencies know well how to use the religious militant groups in Indian Kashmir and Afghanistan for their political ends. That's why the military ruling class engage civilians into political and sectarian violence in order to prolong its rule over the country.
Once again, the present military higher ups are following the same route to promote religious extremists and underground religious militants to not only terrorize the politicians throughout the country but also planning to use them in Afghanistan especially after 2014 with full force. The present Pakistani establishment has congregated all the extreme religious and militant groups including Taliban under one umbrella by the name of "Difa-e-Pakistan Council" under the leadership of former ISI Chief General Hameed Gul to use them for Afghanistan after 2014.
Now, you might have a question, as why Hazaras are being killed in Quetta City by the extreme religious militant groups, the answer is very simple. After 9/11 when international forces attacked on Taliban in Afghanistan, Hazaras in Afghanistan along with other ethnic minorities fully supported the international community to get the Taliban out of Afghanistan.
When Taliban couldn't fight with international forces and Hazaras in Afghanistan, they moved back to Pakistan and they started killing Pakistani Hazaras for being Shia who have been living in Pakistan since 1890. And one thing more, in Quetta City, Hazara are dominantly Shia and it is very easy to target them just because of their Mongoloid features and physical attributes. Since the declaration of religious militants as "strategic asset" by the ruling elites of Pakistan, the religious militants groups like Lashkar-e-Jangvi and Taliban have been given free hands to do anything they like.
The writer is a regular columnist and he can be reached at toyounasat@yahoo.co.uk
Daily Outlook Afghanistan
Sectarianism rears its ugly, ugly head
Wars fought and conflicts initiated in the name of religion have mostly been motivated by political rivalries or crude materialistic interests. This is as true about the medieval crusades as it is about the Afghan jihad launched over three decades back. The ongoing sectarian terrorism in Pakistan has been widely interpreted as the offshoot of the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war. While the real actors behind the conflicts of the type benefited from the conflagrations they had ignited, common people suffered and countries were destabilised in the process.
Gilgit-Baltistan and Balochistan which are of great strategic importance have been chosen by communal terrorists as their hunting ground. The KKH is the sole land route which provides China and Central Asia an access to the Persian Gulf. It is therefore of crucial economic value for Pakistan. Any sectarian upheaval in the region hits the country’s vital interests. The ongoing conflict in Gilgit-Baltistan is the sequel of the February incident when a terrorist group stopped buses and vans on the KKH, verified the identity of the passengers before killing 16 members of the Shia community. Over the last few weeks, tensions continued to mount in the region leading to the tragic events of Tuesday when nine innocent persons were killed near Chilas by a mob and another five died in Gilgit city. Unless the government acts firmly, more innocent people across the sectarian divide are likely to be targeted. The region has to be completely peaceful to serve as a major trade route in days to come
Balochistan is another sensitive province where a terrorist communal network continues to target the Hazaras. While the administration has fully concentrated on the Baloch militants, the sectarian terrorists continue to act with impunity. The province has also been used as a launching pad against Iran by Jundullah which is a sectarian-cum-ethnic terrorist network. The Sunnis and Shias have lived together for centuries with peace. Even now, voters hardly ever take into consideration the sectarian background of the candidates. Both communities are duly represented in the army and other vital institutions. Sectarian terrorism has to be crushed with an iron hand to ensure stability and maintain peace in Pakistan.
Pakistan Today
Gilgit-Baltistan and Balochistan which are of great strategic importance have been chosen by communal terrorists as their hunting ground. The KKH is the sole land route which provides China and Central Asia an access to the Persian Gulf. It is therefore of crucial economic value for Pakistan. Any sectarian upheaval in the region hits the country’s vital interests. The ongoing conflict in Gilgit-Baltistan is the sequel of the February incident when a terrorist group stopped buses and vans on the KKH, verified the identity of the passengers before killing 16 members of the Shia community. Over the last few weeks, tensions continued to mount in the region leading to the tragic events of Tuesday when nine innocent persons were killed near Chilas by a mob and another five died in Gilgit city. Unless the government acts firmly, more innocent people across the sectarian divide are likely to be targeted. The region has to be completely peaceful to serve as a major trade route in days to come
Balochistan is another sensitive province where a terrorist communal network continues to target the Hazaras. While the administration has fully concentrated on the Baloch militants, the sectarian terrorists continue to act with impunity. The province has also been used as a launching pad against Iran by Jundullah which is a sectarian-cum-ethnic terrorist network. The Sunnis and Shias have lived together for centuries with peace. Even now, voters hardly ever take into consideration the sectarian background of the candidates. Both communities are duly represented in the army and other vital institutions. Sectarian terrorism has to be crushed with an iron hand to ensure stability and maintain peace in Pakistan.
Pakistan Today
Syed Nasir Ali Shah in Brisbane Aus Part 2
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Tuesday, April 3, 2012
کوئٹہ: ہزارہ برادری کے دو افراد ہلاک
آخری وقت اشاعت: منگل 3 اپريل 2012 , 18:37 GMT 23:37 PST
پاکستان کے صوبہ بلوچستان کے دارالحکومت کوئٹہ اور سرحدی شہر چمن میں فائرنگ کے دو مختلف واقعات میں چار افراد ہلاک اور دو زخمی ہو گئے۔
کوئٹہ میں ہلاک ہونے والے دونوں افراد کا تعلق شیعہ مسلک اور ہزارہ قبیلے سے ہے۔
کوئٹہ سے بی بی سی کے نامہ نگارایوب ترین کے مطابق منگل کی شام کو نامعلوم مسلح افراد نے کوئٹہ کی میکانیگی روڈ پر واقع ایک میڈیکل سٹور پر فائرنگ کی جس کے نتیجے میں دو افراد شدید زخمی ہو گئے۔
زخمیوں کو فوری طور پر سول ہسپتال کوئٹہ پہنچا دیاگیا جہاں وہ زخموں کی تاب نہ لاتے ہوئے چل بسے۔
پولیس کے مطابق ہلاک ہونے والوں کا تعلق شیعہ مسلک اور ہزارہ قبیلے سے ہے اور فائرنگ کے بعد نامعلوم ملزمان موٹرسائیکل پر فرار ہونے میں کامیاب ہوگئے۔
پولیس نے نامعلوم افراد کے خلاف مقدمہ درج کر کے ان کی تلاش شروع کر دی لیکن آخری اطلاع تک کوئی گرفتاری عمل میں نہیں آئی اور نہ ہی کسی نے اس واقعہ کی ذمہ داری قبول کی ہے۔
شیعہ مسلک سے تعلق رکھنے والوں پر فائرنگ کے یہ واقعہ ایک ایسے وقت میں پیش آیا جب سپریم کورٹ کے چیف جسٹس افتخار محمد چوہدری نہ صرف کوئٹہ میں موجود ہیں بلکہ انہوں نے منگل کے روز ایک آئینی پٹیشن کی سماعت کے دوران مذہبی دہشت گردی خاص طور پر ہزارہ برادری پر ہونے والے حملوں کی شدید الفاظ میں مذمت کرتے ہوئے صوبائی حکومت سے ایک رپورٹ بھی طلب کی۔
خیال رہے کہ انتیس مارچ کو کوئٹہ کے سپنی روڈ پر ایک سوزوکی وین پر فائرنگ کے نتیجے میں ہزارہ قبیلے سےتعلق رکھنے والے چھ افراد سمیت نو افراد ہلاک ہوئے تھے۔
دوسری جانب پاک افغان سرحد کے قریب چمن شہر میں نامعلوم افراد کی فائرنگ سے رحمان کہول روڈ پر دو افراد ہلاک اور دو زخمی ہوئے ہیں زخمیوں کو پوری طور پر سول ہسپتال چمن منتقل کر دیاگیا۔
چمن پولیس کے مطابق فائرنگ سے ہلاک ہونے والے افغانی طالبان ہیں لیکن ابھی تک ان پر فائرنگ کے وجوہات معلوم نہ ہو سکی ہیں۔
BBC URDU
پاکستان کے صوبہ بلوچستان کے دارالحکومت کوئٹہ اور سرحدی شہر چمن میں فائرنگ کے دو مختلف واقعات میں چار افراد ہلاک اور دو زخمی ہو گئے۔
کوئٹہ میں ہلاک ہونے والے دونوں افراد کا تعلق شیعہ مسلک اور ہزارہ قبیلے سے ہے۔
کوئٹہ سے بی بی سی کے نامہ نگارایوب ترین کے مطابق منگل کی شام کو نامعلوم مسلح افراد نے کوئٹہ کی میکانیگی روڈ پر واقع ایک میڈیکل سٹور پر فائرنگ کی جس کے نتیجے میں دو افراد شدید زخمی ہو گئے۔
زخمیوں کو فوری طور پر سول ہسپتال کوئٹہ پہنچا دیاگیا جہاں وہ زخموں کی تاب نہ لاتے ہوئے چل بسے۔
پولیس کے مطابق ہلاک ہونے والوں کا تعلق شیعہ مسلک اور ہزارہ قبیلے سے ہے اور فائرنگ کے بعد نامعلوم ملزمان موٹرسائیکل پر فرار ہونے میں کامیاب ہوگئے۔
پولیس نے نامعلوم افراد کے خلاف مقدمہ درج کر کے ان کی تلاش شروع کر دی لیکن آخری اطلاع تک کوئی گرفتاری عمل میں نہیں آئی اور نہ ہی کسی نے اس واقعہ کی ذمہ داری قبول کی ہے۔
شیعہ مسلک سے تعلق رکھنے والوں پر فائرنگ کے یہ واقعہ ایک ایسے وقت میں پیش آیا جب سپریم کورٹ کے چیف جسٹس افتخار محمد چوہدری نہ صرف کوئٹہ میں موجود ہیں بلکہ انہوں نے منگل کے روز ایک آئینی پٹیشن کی سماعت کے دوران مذہبی دہشت گردی خاص طور پر ہزارہ برادری پر ہونے والے حملوں کی شدید الفاظ میں مذمت کرتے ہوئے صوبائی حکومت سے ایک رپورٹ بھی طلب کی۔
خیال رہے کہ انتیس مارچ کو کوئٹہ کے سپنی روڈ پر ایک سوزوکی وین پر فائرنگ کے نتیجے میں ہزارہ قبیلے سےتعلق رکھنے والے چھ افراد سمیت نو افراد ہلاک ہوئے تھے۔
دوسری جانب پاک افغان سرحد کے قریب چمن شہر میں نامعلوم افراد کی فائرنگ سے رحمان کہول روڈ پر دو افراد ہلاک اور دو زخمی ہوئے ہیں زخمیوں کو پوری طور پر سول ہسپتال چمن منتقل کر دیاگیا۔
چمن پولیس کے مطابق فائرنگ سے ہلاک ہونے والے افغانی طالبان ہیں لیکن ابھی تک ان پر فائرنگ کے وجوہات معلوم نہ ہو سکی ہیں۔
BBC URDU
ٹارگٹ کلنگ:عدالتی فیصلوں پر عمل نہیں ہوا،چیف جسٹس
کوئٹہ… چیف جسٹس آف پاکستان افتخار محمد چوہدری نے بلوچستان میں امن و امان کی صورتحال کے حوالے سے اپنے ریمارکس میں کہا ہے کہ صوبے میں پولیس جرائم کی روک تھام میں مکمل ناکام ہے، یہاں ہر کوئی انجوائے کررہا ہے لگتا ہے کسی کو صوبے کا کوئی درد نہیں جبکہ آئی جی پولیس کو تو صوبے میں امن و امان کی ایسی صورتحال پر نیند ہی نہیں آنا چاہئے تھی۔ کوئٹہ میں سپریم کورٹ کوئٹہ رجسٹری میں بلوچستان میں امن و امان کی صورتحال سے متعلق بلوچستان ہائی کورٹ بار کی جانب سے دائر کردہ آئینی درخواست کی چیف جسٹس افتخار محمد چوہدری کی سربراہی میں تین رکنی بنچ نے کی۔سماعت کے دوران چیف جسٹس نے ریمارکس دیئے کہ کراچی کے حوالے سے سپریم کورٹ نے ایک مفصل فیصلہ دیا تھا لیکن اس پر بھی عمل نہیں ہوا۔ آج ایڈووکیٹ جنرل بلوچستان امان اللہ کنرانی نے پولیس کی تین سالہ کارکردگی کی رپورٹ عدالت میں پیش کی، رپورٹ پر چیف جسٹس افتخارمحمد چوہدری نے ایڈووکیٹ جنرل اور وہاں موجود آئی جی پولیس سے استفسار کیا کہ رپورٹ میں ضلع اور تحصیل کے حساب سے مختلف واقعات میں مرنے والوں اور دیگر تفصیلات رپورٹ میں درج کیوں نہیں ہیں؟اس موقع پر انہوں نے آئی جی پولیس کو مخاطب کرکے کہا کہ آئی جی صاحب ،آپ کو تو اس صورتحال پر نیند ہی نہیں آنا چاہئے تھی، چیف جسٹس نے حال ہی میں اسپنی روڈ پرپیش آنے والے واقعہ کے حوالے سے کہا کہ کارکردگی رپورٹ میں تو اس واقعہ کا ذکر نہیں ہے ،ان کا یہ بھی کہنا تھا کہ پولیس رپورٹ میں تو سب اچھا لکھا ہے، کیا جتنی لاشیں ملیں ان کے کتنے مقدمات درج کئے گئے، انہوں نے اس موقع پر یہ استفسار بھی کیا کہ رپورٹ میں پولیس کے زیرکنٹرول علاقوں کا تو بتایا ہے لیویز کا ریکارڈ کہاں ہے، چیف جسٹس نے ایڈووکیٹ جنرل سے یہ استفسار بھی کیا کہ صوبائی حکومت ان کی ذمہ داری ہے، صوبے میں حکومتی رٹ کہاں ہے؟ اس پر ایڈووکیٹ جنرل بلوچستان کا کہنا تھا کہ صوبے میں 2008سے اب تک ٹارگٹ کلنگ کے واقعات میں 90فیصدکمی واقع ہوئی ہے، اس پر چیف جسٹس نے ریمارکس دئے کہ صوبے میں ایک فیصد بھی ٹارگٹ کلنگ نہیں ہونی چاہئیے،سماعت کے دوران ایڈووکیٹ جنرل نے عدالت کوبتایا کہ صوبے سے گذشتہ چند سالوں میں 204لاشیں برآمد ہوئیں، اس پر چیف جسٹس نے ریمارکس دئے کہ کیا اپ کو بتہ ہے کہ صوبے سے ملنے والی لاشوں سے کیا پیغام جارہا ہے، سماعت کے دوران چیف جسٹس نے کہا کہ صوبے میں باہر سے آنے والے لوگوں کو بسوں سے اتار کر بھی مارا جارہا ہے، اور اپ یہ بھی بتائیں کہ کہ صوبے سے حالات کے باعث کتنے اساتذہ نے ہجرت کی، ایک موقع پر چیف جسٹس آف پاکستان نے اپنے ریمارکس میں یہ بھی کہا کہ ملک میں سب سے زیادہ ہم بلوچستان کے لوگ محب وطن ہیں۔اس موقع پر بنچ کے ایک اور رکن جسٹس خلجی عارف حسین نے اپنے ریمارکس میں کہا کہ بلوچستان ہماری روح ہے، یہاں کے حالات پر پردہ ڈالنے سے کچھ نہیں ہوگا اسے حل کرنا ہے، ان نے یہ بھی کہا کہ پولیس کی کارکردگی رپورٹ ہمارے سامنے رکھ دی کہ ہر چیز ہری ہے جبکہ یہاں پر حالات کی بہتری کے لئے مرضی ہی نہیں ہے،سماعت کے دوران درخواست کے مدعی اور سینئر وکیل ظہور احمد شاہوانی نے عدالت کو بتایا کہ اغواء برائے تاوان میں بعض وزراء ملوث بتائے جاتے ہیں، جس پر چیف جسٹس کا کہنا تھا کہ قانون سے بڑا کوئی نہیں، اس کی نشاندہی کرنے والے صوبائی وزیر کو پولیس کے پاس لے جانا چاہئے تھا، قانون سے بڑا کوئی نہیں، اس موقع پر چیف جسٹس افتخار محمد چوہدری نے سیکرٹری داخلہ سے استفسار کیا کہ کیا انہوں نے صوبائی وزیر داخلہ سے تحریری طور پرپوچھا کہ کونسے وزراء اغواء برائے تاوان میں ملوث ہیں، پھر خود ہی کہا کہ انہوں نے اس لئے صوبائی وزیرداخلہ سے اس بارے میں نہیں پوچھا کہ وہ ان کا تبادلہ کردے گا، اس موقع پر چیف جسٹس نے ایڈووکیٹ جنرل کو ہدایت کی کہ صوبائی وزیر داخلہ کا بعض صوبائی وزراء کے اغواء برائے تاوان میں ملوث ہونے کے حوالے سے دیا گیا بیان ریکارڈ پر لایا جائے
GEO TV
GEO TV
Sectarian killing: 2 (Hazaras) shot dead in Quetta
By Our Correspondent
Published: April 3, 2012
QUETTA: Two persons were shot dead by unknown assailants on Macangi road in Quetta on Monday.
According to sources, unknown assailants armed with sophisticated weapons barged into a medical and a shoe store on Mecangi road and opened fire at the people present there. The victims received fatal gun shot wounds in the head and chest, and died on the spot.
The assailants managed to escape on a motorbike after committing the crime.
Their bodies were shifted to Provincial Sandeman Hospital for autopsy where one of the bodies was identified as Akbar Ali, resident of Alamdar road, an area dominated by Hazara community.
The identity of another body could not be ascertained.
A heavy contingent of police reached the spot soon after the incident and cordoned off the area. “It could be an incident of sectarian targeted killing as both the victims were Shia Muslims and belonged to Hazara community,” an official said.
It is the fourth incident of sectarian targeted killings during the past couple of days in which up to 15 people have fallen victim so far.
Express Tribune
Published: April 3, 2012
QUETTA: Two persons were shot dead by unknown assailants on Macangi road in Quetta on Monday.
According to sources, unknown assailants armed with sophisticated weapons barged into a medical and a shoe store on Mecangi road and opened fire at the people present there. The victims received fatal gun shot wounds in the head and chest, and died on the spot.
The assailants managed to escape on a motorbike after committing the crime.
Their bodies were shifted to Provincial Sandeman Hospital for autopsy where one of the bodies was identified as Akbar Ali, resident of Alamdar road, an area dominated by Hazara community.
The identity of another body could not be ascertained.
A heavy contingent of police reached the spot soon after the incident and cordoned off the area. “It could be an incident of sectarian targeted killing as both the victims were Shia Muslims and belonged to Hazara community,” an official said.
It is the fourth incident of sectarian targeted killings during the past couple of days in which up to 15 people have fallen victim so far.
Express Tribune
Pakistan's Hazara Women Fight Killings With Bangles
By RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal
April 03, 2012
QUETTA, Pakistan -- In the face of what seems to be increasing targeted killings, Hazara women in Pakistan's western Balochistan Province are fighting back with a mix of guilt and tradition.
During a rally in the regional capital on April 2, dozens threw their bangles, bracelet-like traditional ornaments connected closely with a woman's honor, at the gates of the government building.
It was a simple act, but one that was highly symbolic of the shame they feel toward the government in Quetta and its inability to protect them.
The women, clad in traditional dress, condemned the authorities' inaction when it comes to attacks on Hazaras.
The organizer of the protest, the Hazara Democratic Party, says members of the Shi'ite minority have been increasingly subjected to targeted killings in the past decade.
Dozens of Hazaras have been killed in attacks attributed to extremist groups, including Lashkar-e Jangi and local Taliban militants. In late March, five Hazaras were killed in the outskirts of Quetta.
Nazanin Zaman, leader of the party's women's wing, said officials and law enforcement agencies have failed to address the issue.
"People are being killed in large numbers but no action is being taken," Zaman said.
The women demanded the authorities take measures to stop sectarian killings and to provide security for Hazaras.
Balochistan is home to some 100,000 Hazaras, many of them impoverished laborers.
Written by Farangis Najibullah, based on reporting by RFE/RL Radio Mashaal correspondent Khudai Noor Naser in Quetta
Radio Free Europe
April 03, 2012
QUETTA, Pakistan -- In the face of what seems to be increasing targeted killings, Hazara women in Pakistan's western Balochistan Province are fighting back with a mix of guilt and tradition.
During a rally in the regional capital on April 2, dozens threw their bangles, bracelet-like traditional ornaments connected closely with a woman's honor, at the gates of the government building.
It was a simple act, but one that was highly symbolic of the shame they feel toward the government in Quetta and its inability to protect them.
The women, clad in traditional dress, condemned the authorities' inaction when it comes to attacks on Hazaras.
The organizer of the protest, the Hazara Democratic Party, says members of the Shi'ite minority have been increasingly subjected to targeted killings in the past decade.
Dozens of Hazaras have been killed in attacks attributed to extremist groups, including Lashkar-e Jangi and local Taliban militants. In late March, five Hazaras were killed in the outskirts of Quetta.
Nazanin Zaman, leader of the party's women's wing, said officials and law enforcement agencies have failed to address the issue.
"People are being killed in large numbers but no action is being taken," Zaman said.
The women demanded the authorities take measures to stop sectarian killings and to provide security for Hazaras.
Balochistan is home to some 100,000 Hazaras, many of them impoverished laborers.
Written by Farangis Najibullah, based on reporting by RFE/RL Radio Mashaal correspondent Khudai Noor Naser in Quetta
Radio Free Europe
Razia Sher Khan; An emerging, female athlete star from Karachi
"Hazara starlet Razia Sher Khan clinched 5 gold and 2 bronze medals in Sindh Games 2012. On the last day of the race she covered 100metre distance in just 14.78 seconds taking her medal numbers to 7 in total. She also proved to be the best athlete of the of the event.
“I can’t be more proud of myself,” Razia told The Express Tribune. “With all the poor conditions and extremely hot weather here I managed to win the most medals among all the men and women here.
“Our whole Karachi contingent has just been outstanding and we proved that we can win gold medals in all sorts of conditions. Now other cities can’t really complain that we are the privileged one.”
Whole Hazara Nation in genereal and Hazaras in Karachi in particular congratulate Razia Sher Khan for her stunning performance and great acheivement."....Hazaras in Karachi
"MIRPUR KHAS: Karachi continued their domination of the Sindh Games, clinching the 15th edition of the event for their 12th overall title.
Karachi ended with a total of 94 gold medals, beating Hyderabad into second place who won 42, while Sukkur finished third with a modest tally of 15 gold medals.
On the last day of the event, Karachi’s Razia Sher Khan clinched gold in the women’s 100-metre (m) race, while Riaz Khan emerged as the winner in the men’s race.
Razia covered the distance in just 14.78 seconds and Riaz bagged the gold medal after clocking a time of 11.31 seconds.
Razia also proved to be the best athlete of the event, winning five gold and two bronze medals in the 220m, 400m, long jump and 400m relay races.
“I can’t be more proud of myself,” Razia told The Express Tribune. “With all the poor conditions and extremely hot weather here I managed to win the most medals among all the men and women here.
“Our whole Karachi contingent has just been outstanding and we proved that we can win gold medals in all sorts of conditions. Now other cities can’t really complain that we are the privileged one.”....... Express Tribune
“I can’t be more proud of myself,” Razia told The Express Tribune. “With all the poor conditions and extremely hot weather here I managed to win the most medals among all the men and women here.
“Our whole Karachi contingent has just been outstanding and we proved that we can win gold medals in all sorts of conditions. Now other cities can’t really complain that we are the privileged one.”
Whole Hazara Nation in genereal and Hazaras in Karachi in particular congratulate Razia Sher Khan for her stunning performance and great acheivement."....Hazaras in Karachi
"MIRPUR KHAS: Karachi continued their domination of the Sindh Games, clinching the 15th edition of the event for their 12th overall title.
Karachi ended with a total of 94 gold medals, beating Hyderabad into second place who won 42, while Sukkur finished third with a modest tally of 15 gold medals.
On the last day of the event, Karachi’s Razia Sher Khan clinched gold in the women’s 100-metre (m) race, while Riaz Khan emerged as the winner in the men’s race.
Razia covered the distance in just 14.78 seconds and Riaz bagged the gold medal after clocking a time of 11.31 seconds.
Razia also proved to be the best athlete of the event, winning five gold and two bronze medals in the 220m, 400m, long jump and 400m relay races.
“I can’t be more proud of myself,” Razia told The Express Tribune. “With all the poor conditions and extremely hot weather here I managed to win the most medals among all the men and women here.
“Our whole Karachi contingent has just been outstanding and we proved that we can win gold medals in all sorts of conditions. Now other cities can’t really complain that we are the privileged one.”....... Express Tribune
Monday, April 2, 2012
Hazara women protest against targeted killing of community members
By Our Correspondent
Published: April 2, 2012
QUETTA: Women belonging to Hazara community staged a protest outside the Balochistan Assembly against government and law enforcement agencies’ inaction towards incidents of targeted killings in Quetta.
The protest demonstration was organised by Hazara Democratic Party (HDP) particularly against the target killing incident on Spinney Road on March 29, 2012, which left five people dead, including a woman belonging to the Hazara Community.
“We are compelled to come out from our houses due to all the injustices done to our people. Hazara tribe has been subjected to targeted killings and other acts of terrorism for the past decade,” said Nazneen Zaman, President HDP women wing. “Peace would prevail if government and its functionaries perform their constitutional duties with responsibility,” she said.
The protesting women said that the Hazara tribe members cannot travel due to prevailing insecurity and increasing number of attacks against them.
They called upon Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to take suo motu notice of the deteriorating law and order situation in the province, particularly targeted killings of Hazara people on sectarian basis.
“We have pinned all our hope on Chief Justice of Pakistan that he will provide us with justice,” a protestor told The Express Tribune.
Published: April 2, 2012
QUETTA: Women belonging to Hazara community staged a protest outside the Balochistan Assembly against government and law enforcement agencies’ inaction towards incidents of targeted killings in Quetta.
The protest demonstration was organised by Hazara Democratic Party (HDP) particularly against the target killing incident on Spinney Road on March 29, 2012, which left five people dead, including a woman belonging to the Hazara Community.
“We are compelled to come out from our houses due to all the injustices done to our people. Hazara tribe has been subjected to targeted killings and other acts of terrorism for the past decade,” said Nazneen Zaman, President HDP women wing. “Peace would prevail if government and its functionaries perform their constitutional duties with responsibility,” she said.
The protesting women said that the Hazara tribe members cannot travel due to prevailing insecurity and increasing number of attacks against them.
They called upon Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to take suo motu notice of the deteriorating law and order situation in the province, particularly targeted killings of Hazara people on sectarian basis.
“We have pinned all our hope on Chief Justice of Pakistan that he will provide us with justice,” a protestor told The Express Tribune.
کوئٹہ: ٹارگٹ کلنگ کیخلاف ہزارہ ڈیمو کریٹک پارٹی کی خواتین کا مظاہرہ
کوئٹہ … کوئٹہ میں اسپنی روڈ اور دیگر مختلف واقعات میں ہزارہ قبیلے سے تعلق رکھنے والے افراد کی ٹارگٹ کلنگ کے خلاف ہزارہ ڈیموکریٹک پارٹی کے زیراہتمام خواتین نے احتجاجی مظاہرہ کیا ۔ بلوچستان اسمبلی کے باہر کئے گئے احتجاجی مظاہرے میں خواتین نے پلے کارڈز اور بینرزکے علاوہ چوڑیاں بھی اٹھائی ہوئی تھیں۔ انہوں نے ہزارہ برادری سے تعلق رکھنے والے افراد کی ٹارگٹ کلنگ کے خلاف شدید نعرے بازی کی اور اس موقع پر خواتین نے بڑی تعداد میں چوڑیاں اسمبلی کے باہر پھینکیں اور گیٹ کے پاس باندھ بھی دیں۔ ان کا مطالبہ تھا کہ ہزارہ قوم کی ٹارگٹ کلنگ بند کراوٴ، ان کا یہ بھی کہنا تھا کہ اگر حکومت انہیں تحفظ فراہم نہیں کرسکتی تو یہ چوڑیاں ان کیلئے تحفہ ہیں۔ انہوں یہ بھی کہا کہ پہلے تو صرف ہزارہ برادری کے مردوں کو ٹارگٹ کیا جاتا تھا اب خواتین کو بھی نشانہ بنایا جارہا ہے۔
Geo TV
Invitation Letter
May we warmly appreciate and encourage Mr. Sam Janis ,a Consultant from US along with the entire team of Mjor Nadir Ali , a prominent Hazara Social activist, for the compilation of International report on Hazara Target Killings in Quetta and publish it in the form of a book. May we also inform all Hazaras and the rest of nations that a bill ,on the same issue is going to be presented and discussed in American Senate. Their efforts, survey must be acknowledged and applauded in all respect.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Friday, March 30, 2012
Shutter-down: Quetta closed after Hazara killings
By Shehzad Baloch
Published: March 30, 2012
The community leaders said they will not bury the bodies until and unless the arrested protestors are freed. PHOTO: PPI/ FILE
QUETTA: A complete shutter-down strike was observed in Quetta on Friday to protest against Thursday’s killings of five people, including a woman of the Hazara community.
At least five people were gunned down on Thursday morning while six others were injured, when a van carrying people belonging to the the Hazara community was ambushed on Spini road.
The Hazara community continued their protest for the second consecutive day by staging demonstrations.
Addressing a news conference at Hazara Graveyard, the Vice President of the Shia Conference said that police have rounded up several people of the Hazara community during a peaceful protest.
“We will not bury the bodies until the arrested Hazara people are released,” he said.
The strike call was given by the Hazara Democratic Party (HDP), Shia Conference and backed by Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PMAP), Jamhoori Wattan Party (JWP) and other nationalist parties condemning the incident.
Trade and business activities in Quetta remained at a halt. All shops, trading centers, retailers and commercial establishments on Prince Road, Masjid Road, Liaquat Bazaar, Joint Road, Saryab Road, Alamdar Road, Hazara Town, Marriabad, Abdul Sattar Road, Zarghoon Road and others were closed.
Traffic remained thin and all street bore a deserted appearance.
Stringent security measures have been put on place with the heavy deployment of Frontier Corps (FC), police and other law enforcement agencies to thwart any unpleasant incident.
The Hazara community had staged a protest at the graveyard demanding an immediate arrest of culprits involved in targeted killings of the Hazara community.
The angry protestors burnt tyres on Eastern Bypass and raised slogans against the government and law enforcement agencies for their failure to protect the life and property of people.
A police official Mukham Raza was also killed during the violent protests triggered by the killings yesterday.
Police have rounded up dozens of suspects so far during their investigation.
Express Tribune
Published: March 30, 2012
QUETTA: A complete shutter-down strike was observed in Quetta on Friday to protest against Thursday’s killings of five people, including a woman of the Hazara community.
At least five people were gunned down on Thursday morning while six others were injured, when a van carrying people belonging to the the Hazara community was ambushed on Spini road.
The Hazara community continued their protest for the second consecutive day by staging demonstrations.
Addressing a news conference at Hazara Graveyard, the Vice President of the Shia Conference said that police have rounded up several people of the Hazara community during a peaceful protest.
“We will not bury the bodies until the arrested Hazara people are released,” he said.
The strike call was given by the Hazara Democratic Party (HDP), Shia Conference and backed by Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PMAP), Jamhoori Wattan Party (JWP) and other nationalist parties condemning the incident.
Trade and business activities in Quetta remained at a halt. All shops, trading centers, retailers and commercial establishments on Prince Road, Masjid Road, Liaquat Bazaar, Joint Road, Saryab Road, Alamdar Road, Hazara Town, Marriabad, Abdul Sattar Road, Zarghoon Road and others were closed.
Traffic remained thin and all street bore a deserted appearance.
Stringent security measures have been put on place with the heavy deployment of Frontier Corps (FC), police and other law enforcement agencies to thwart any unpleasant incident.
The Hazara community had staged a protest at the graveyard demanding an immediate arrest of culprits involved in targeted killings of the Hazara community.
The angry protestors burnt tyres on Eastern Bypass and raised slogans against the government and law enforcement agencies for their failure to protect the life and property of people.
A police official Mukham Raza was also killed during the violent protests triggered by the killings yesterday.
Police have rounded up dozens of suspects so far during their investigation.
Express Tribune
Pictorial report of Protest over killings of Hazaras in Quetta
Pictures have their own language and they do speak...
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A protester murdered by Police
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Police beating and arresting protesters
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A protester murdered by Police
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Police beating and arresting protesters
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Build bridges for harmony
Ram Puniyani on how divide-and-rule dynamics can be slowly erased in South Asia
LIFE IS full of paradoxes, and not all of them are upsetting. Some of them give a pleasant cozy feeling too. Recently, on March 25, 2012, people saw the Pakistan Deputy Attorney General Muhammad Khurshid Khan polishing the shoes of devotees in Gurudwara Rakabganj, Delhi. This work is part of seva (service) in gurudwaras. This particular tradition is part of Sikh gurudwaras. Kurshid was doing this to atone for the sins of the Taliban, who have tormented the Sikhs in many ways. He also was doing it to heal the wounds of minorities who have suffered the violence. The Taliban had abducted three Sikhs, demanding ransom. One of the Sikhs was killed. Khurshid felt the Taliban had done something inhuman, which is against Islam. Pained by this, he started this mission of bring peace and amity amongst religious communities....Continue Reading....
LIFE IS full of paradoxes, and not all of them are upsetting. Some of them give a pleasant cozy feeling too. Recently, on March 25, 2012, people saw the Pakistan Deputy Attorney General Muhammad Khurshid Khan polishing the shoes of devotees in Gurudwara Rakabganj, Delhi. This work is part of seva (service) in gurudwaras. This particular tradition is part of Sikh gurudwaras. Kurshid was doing this to atone for the sins of the Taliban, who have tormented the Sikhs in many ways. He also was doing it to heal the wounds of minorities who have suffered the violence. The Taliban had abducted three Sikhs, demanding ransom. One of the Sikhs was killed. Khurshid felt the Taliban had done something inhuman, which is against Islam. Pained by this, he started this mission of bring peace and amity amongst religious communities....Continue Reading....
Our sectarian monster
By Editorial
Published: March 29, 2012
It is most tragic that the Hazaras are now being made to feel like strangers in their own land . PHOTO: AFP/ FILE
Five more people, including a woman were killed in a drive-by shooting in Quetta on March 29, in what the provincial government described as “an incident of sectarian targeted killing” while two NGO workers were shot dead the same day by unknown assailants in Mastung. There has been a manifold increase in sectarian attacks in Balochistan recently, and it seems as though the Hazara community is specifically being targeted. In addition to yesterday’s attack, there have been numerous other incidents of violence against the Hazara community. Last September, a bus full of Shias were murdered near Quetta, while a few weeks before that there was an Eid massacre of Shias in Balochistan. Amidst the military’s offensive against separatists, we tend to forget that there is another war being fought targeting the most vulnerable community in the province.
The roots of the sectarian violence, like most discrimination against minority communities, can be traced back to the military dictatorship of Ziaul Haq. In his eagerness to impose a hardline Sunni interpretation of Islam in the country, Zia created and strengthened militant groups that initially fought in Afghanistan and Kashmir, but later turned their guns on the Shia community at home. Unfortunately, successive governments in the 1990s did nothing to throttle these militant groups and the situation kept getting worse over time.
Even before that, however, the Hazara community has been singled out by those who condemn them as imposters and infidels. The Taliban regime in Afghanistan was vicious against them. In Pakistan, it was the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi that first started issuing edicts against the Hazaras. For a community that is over half a million strong, it is most tragic that the Hazaras are now being made to feel like strangers in their own land. Although efforts are being made by the government to beef up security in the city as Frontier Corps and the police have jointly launched a search operation in different areas of Quetta and arrested suspects, more needs to be done to ensure that no more lives are lost.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 30th, 2012.
Published: March 29, 2012
Five more people, including a woman were killed in a drive-by shooting in Quetta on March 29, in what the provincial government described as “an incident of sectarian targeted killing” while two NGO workers were shot dead the same day by unknown assailants in Mastung. There has been a manifold increase in sectarian attacks in Balochistan recently, and it seems as though the Hazara community is specifically being targeted. In addition to yesterday’s attack, there have been numerous other incidents of violence against the Hazara community. Last September, a bus full of Shias were murdered near Quetta, while a few weeks before that there was an Eid massacre of Shias in Balochistan. Amidst the military’s offensive against separatists, we tend to forget that there is another war being fought targeting the most vulnerable community in the province.
The roots of the sectarian violence, like most discrimination against minority communities, can be traced back to the military dictatorship of Ziaul Haq. In his eagerness to impose a hardline Sunni interpretation of Islam in the country, Zia created and strengthened militant groups that initially fought in Afghanistan and Kashmir, but later turned their guns on the Shia community at home. Unfortunately, successive governments in the 1990s did nothing to throttle these militant groups and the situation kept getting worse over time.
Even before that, however, the Hazara community has been singled out by those who condemn them as imposters and infidels. The Taliban regime in Afghanistan was vicious against them. In Pakistan, it was the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi that first started issuing edicts against the Hazaras. For a community that is over half a million strong, it is most tragic that the Hazaras are now being made to feel like strangers in their own land. Although efforts are being made by the government to beef up security in the city as Frontier Corps and the police have jointly launched a search operation in different areas of Quetta and arrested suspects, more needs to be done to ensure that no more lives are lost.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 30th, 2012.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Gunmen reportedly kill 6 in Pakistan including UN official
Published March 29, 2012
| Associated Press
AP
March 29, 2012: Pakistani protesters shout slogans against government to condemn killings in Quetta, Pakistan after an attack by a gunman who appeared to target local employees of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, officials said.
QUETTA, Pakistan – Gunmen killed six people Thursday in a pair of attacks in southwestern Pakistan, one of which targeted local employees of a U.N. agency, officials said.
The assailants opened fire on the staff of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization as they were riding in a car through Baluchistan province's Mastung district, killing two people, said police officer Rustam Khan.
A member of the group's project staff and a hired driver were the two people killed, said a U.N. official on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media. Another staff member was wounded, he said.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.
Baluchistan has experienced a decades-long insurgency by nationalists who demand greater autonomy and a larger share of the province's natural resources. Baluch nationalists have targeted Pakistani security forces and officials in the past, as well as aid workers helping the government.
The province is also home to many Taliban militants, allegedly including the group's leader, Mullah Omar.
Earlier Thursday, gunmen on motorcycles opened fire on a passenger van in Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan, killing four Shiite Muslims in an apparent sectarian attack, police officer Shaukat Khan said.
Ahmad Marwat, a spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban's Jundullah faction, claimed responsibility for the shooting.
"They were Shiite infidels," Marwat told The Associated Press by telephone from an undisclosed location. "We will kill them wherever we find them."
Sunni militants with links to Al Qaeda and the Taliban have carried out scores of bombings and shootings across the country against minority Shiites in recent years, especially in Baluchistan.
The Sunni-Shiite schism over the true heir to Islam's Prophet Muhammad dates back to the seventh century.
Fox News
| Associated Press
March 29, 2012: Pakistani protesters shout slogans against government to condemn killings in Quetta, Pakistan after an attack by a gunman who appeared to target local employees of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, officials said.
QUETTA, Pakistan – Gunmen killed six people Thursday in a pair of attacks in southwestern Pakistan, one of which targeted local employees of a U.N. agency, officials said.
The assailants opened fire on the staff of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization as they were riding in a car through Baluchistan province's Mastung district, killing two people, said police officer Rustam Khan.
A member of the group's project staff and a hired driver were the two people killed, said a U.N. official on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media. Another staff member was wounded, he said.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.
Baluchistan has experienced a decades-long insurgency by nationalists who demand greater autonomy and a larger share of the province's natural resources. Baluch nationalists have targeted Pakistani security forces and officials in the past, as well as aid workers helping the government.
The province is also home to many Taliban militants, allegedly including the group's leader, Mullah Omar.
Earlier Thursday, gunmen on motorcycles opened fire on a passenger van in Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan, killing four Shiite Muslims in an apparent sectarian attack, police officer Shaukat Khan said.
Ahmad Marwat, a spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban's Jundullah faction, claimed responsibility for the shooting.
"They were Shiite infidels," Marwat told The Associated Press by telephone from an undisclosed location. "We will kill them wherever we find them."
Sunni militants with links to Al Qaeda and the Taliban have carried out scores of bombings and shootings across the country against minority Shiites in recent years, especially in Baluchistan.
The Sunni-Shiite schism over the true heir to Islam's Prophet Muhammad dates back to the seventh century.
Fox News
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Six killed, seven injured (Hazaras) in Balochistan firing incidents
QUETTA: Five people lost their lives in two separate incidents of firing by some unknown armed men, early morning on Thursday, DawnNews reported.
The first attack took place in Kali Mubarak area near Spini road, Quetta, where five people (Hazaras)including a women were killed and six people were injured, when some unkown armed men opened fire.
The second attack took place in Mastung, where the vehicle of an NGO came under fire by some unknown armed men, killing two people and injuring another.
Dawn News
Earlier report,
QUETTA: Unidentified men opened fire on a car at Spini Road in Quetta that killed two persons and injured three others on Thursday, Geo News reported.
According to reports, armed miscreants opened fire on a car coming from Hazara Town to Quetta that killed two passengers and injured three others at 8:15 am.
It is important to mention that such incidents have occurred before in the same vicinity and at the same time when duties of security men are changed at 8:00 am.
Police reached the spot and traffic was resumed on the road while investigation has kicked off.
The motive of killing is still unknown.
Dawn News
The first attack took place in Kali Mubarak area near Spini road, Quetta, where five people (Hazaras)including a women were killed and six people were injured, when some unkown armed men opened fire.
The second attack took place in Mastung, where the vehicle of an NGO came under fire by some unknown armed men, killing two people and injuring another.
Dawn News
Earlier report,
QUETTA: Unidentified men opened fire on a car at Spini Road in Quetta that killed two persons and injured three others on Thursday, Geo News reported.
According to reports, armed miscreants opened fire on a car coming from Hazara Town to Quetta that killed two passengers and injured three others at 8:15 am.
It is important to mention that such incidents have occurred before in the same vicinity and at the same time when duties of security men are changed at 8:00 am.
Police reached the spot and traffic was resumed on the road while investigation has kicked off.
The motive of killing is still unknown.
Dawn News
Two members of Hazara community injured in Dasht
By Shehzad Baloch
Published: March 28, 2012
Gunmen shot at a car in Dasht area of Mustang on Wednesday.
QUETTA: Two people belonging to the Hazara community were injured while their three companions escaped unhurt when the car they were riding was attacked by a group of armed men near Dasht area in Mastung district on Wednesday.
According to an official of the Balochistan Levies, the five were travelling to Quetta from Mach town in a car when a group of armed men opened fire at them near Tera Mill area in Dasht. As a result of the attack, Jawad Ahmed and Khadem Hussain sustained bullet wounds while three others in the car escaped unhurt. The attackers managed to make good their escape after committing the crime.
Assistant Commissioner Dasht, Nasir Ahmed Jattak and Naib Tehsildar Mohammad Ramzan along with personnel of the Balochistan Levies reached the spot and cordoned off the area.
The injured were taken to Provincial Sandeman Hospital Quetta for treatment.
However, officials were unsure whether the attack was a sectarian attack or related to something else. “It could be an incident of sectarian targeted killing. However, a manhunt has been mounted in the area for the culprits,” an official told reporters.
The injured were later referred to Combined Military Hospital (CMH) because of security concerns.
It is pertinent to mention that as many as 26 pilgrims belonging to Hazara community were forced off a passenger bus,lined up before being shot in the dead. Similarly, a man was shot dead and another wounded in Quetta as part of a targeted attack. Both belonged to the Hazara community.
Law enforcing agencies have beefed up security on national highways and in Quetta after the attacks on Hazara community surged over the past year.
Express Tribune
Published: March 28, 2012
Gunmen shot at a car in Dasht area of Mustang on Wednesday.
QUETTA: Two people belonging to the Hazara community were injured while their three companions escaped unhurt when the car they were riding was attacked by a group of armed men near Dasht area in Mastung district on Wednesday.
According to an official of the Balochistan Levies, the five were travelling to Quetta from Mach town in a car when a group of armed men opened fire at them near Tera Mill area in Dasht. As a result of the attack, Jawad Ahmed and Khadem Hussain sustained bullet wounds while three others in the car escaped unhurt. The attackers managed to make good their escape after committing the crime.
Assistant Commissioner Dasht, Nasir Ahmed Jattak and Naib Tehsildar Mohammad Ramzan along with personnel of the Balochistan Levies reached the spot and cordoned off the area.
The injured were taken to Provincial Sandeman Hospital Quetta for treatment.
However, officials were unsure whether the attack was a sectarian attack or related to something else. “It could be an incident of sectarian targeted killing. However, a manhunt has been mounted in the area for the culprits,” an official told reporters.
The injured were later referred to Combined Military Hospital (CMH) because of security concerns.
It is pertinent to mention that as many as 26 pilgrims belonging to Hazara community were forced off a passenger bus,lined up before being shot in the dead. Similarly, a man was shot dead and another wounded in Quetta as part of a targeted attack. Both belonged to the Hazara community.
Law enforcing agencies have beefed up security on national highways and in Quetta after the attacks on Hazara community surged over the past year.
Express Tribune
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Balochistan violence: Two (Hazaras) killed in Quetta target shooting
By Our Correspondent
Published: March 27, 2012
Police official suspects sectarian motives in assault on Hazara men.
QUETTA: In a fresh spurt of target shootings on Monday, two men belonging to the Hazara community were killed when unidentified men opened fire on them on Quetta’s Sabzal Road before fleeing the scene.
As a result, Ejaz died on the spot while Asghar received critical wounds. The body and injured were shifted to Bolan Medical Complex. “The injured is in a very critical condition and was referred to the Combined Military Hospital,” doctors said.
A local police official said that it might be a case of sectarian attack. However, he hastened to add that investigations were ongoing to determine this aspect. Despite presence of paramilitary forces, target killings continue to increase in the restive province. Earlier, a young scholar was shot dead by unknown assailants in Quetta.
Police and counter-terrorism officials say that outlawed militant groups such as Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi were actively involved in fomenting sectarian hatred in the province. However, no group has claimed responsibility for the killings.
Express Tribune
Published: March 27, 2012
Police official suspects sectarian motives in assault on Hazara men.
QUETTA: In a fresh spurt of target shootings on Monday, two men belonging to the Hazara community were killed when unidentified men opened fire on them on Quetta’s Sabzal Road before fleeing the scene.
As a result, Ejaz died on the spot while Asghar received critical wounds. The body and injured were shifted to Bolan Medical Complex. “The injured is in a very critical condition and was referred to the Combined Military Hospital,” doctors said.
A local police official said that it might be a case of sectarian attack. However, he hastened to add that investigations were ongoing to determine this aspect. Despite presence of paramilitary forces, target killings continue to increase in the restive province. Earlier, a young scholar was shot dead by unknown assailants in Quetta.
Police and counter-terrorism officials say that outlawed militant groups such as Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi were actively involved in fomenting sectarian hatred in the province. However, no group has claimed responsibility for the killings.
Express Tribune
Monday, March 26, 2012
US defeat won’t be Afghan victory
By Pervez Hoodbhoy
Published: March 26, 2012
The writer teaches physics and political science at LUMS. He has a doctorate from MIT.
Ever since US Sergeant Robert Bales surrendered after calmly massacring Afghan women and children, he has been depicted as a man under unusual personal circumstances. A high-ranking US official told the New York Times: “When it all comes out, it will be a combination of stress, alcohol and domestic issues – he just snapped”. Unlike those sentenced to death by drones flying high over Waziristan, Bales will enjoy a thorough investigation. Whisked out of Afghanistan, he may or may not ever be convicted. If convicted, the penalty is unlikely to exceed a few prison years; “good behaviour” may qualify him for an early parole.
Although President Obama and Secretary Clinton habitually apologise to the Afghan people after every such atrocity — of which there is a long list — the fact that they happen is inevitable. Indian troops in Kashmir, and Pakistani soldiers in Balochistan, have not behaved any differently. At the core, the problem is the forcible occupation by an army of another country or people.
The Bales case has added one more reason for cash-strapped Americans to leave, speeding up the endgame. President Obama has announced plans to shift US forces to a supporting role next year and pull out most of the 90,000 U.S. troops in the country by late 2014, with 23,000 gone by this October. US Republicans — strong enthusiasts for overseas wars and interventions — are now criticising Obama for being too slow! Rick Santorum, a leading presidential candidate, said last week “We have to either make the decision to make a full commitment, which this president has not done, or we have to decide to get out, and probably get out sooner.” A day earlier, Newt Gingrich declared in even more direct terms that it was time to leave the country.
America’s “good war” — to be distinguished from the Iraq war — is rapidly collapsing and becoming more unpopular by the day. But it once had support across the world and military success had been almost instant. Weeks after 9/11 and the subsequent invasion of Afghanistan, al Qaeda was chased out and, eventually, bin Laden was killed. With time the earlier support evaporated. Except for Marine Gen. John Allen and a few others, the pretence that the US can win is almost over. It has been unable to create a stable, non-hostile Afghan government that could stop extremist groups from using Afghan territory once again. The Taliban are smelling victory.
But, much as one welcomes the US exit, America’s defeat will not be Afghanistan’s victory. The crimes of foreign occupation pale in front of the enormous crimes committed by the Taliban government, 1996-2001. Although the outside world knew the Taliban largely for having blown up the 2000-year old Bamiyan Buddha statues and their cruel treatment of women, their atrocities were far more widespread. Going from door to door, they had executed thousands in Mazar-i-Sharif after ascertaining that they were ethnic Hazaras or Shias. A 55-page UN report says that Mullah Omar’s men, while trying to consolidate control over northern and western Afghanistan, committed systematic massacres against civilians.Fifteen such massacres were committed during the period of the Taliban government until it was mercifully removed by the US invasion.
Eqbal Ahmed, who worked for Muslim causes from Palestine to Algeria, was by far the most perceptive and knowledgeable social activist and intellectual I have known. We had occasional disagreements but he too saw the Taliban as a social cancer that, if unchecked, would reduce Muslim society to medieval primitivism.
In 1998 — a year before he died — Eqbal had visited two cities under Taliban rule, Qandahar and Jalalabad. Soon after visiting a “land without music”, he wrote: “I have seen the future as envisioned by contemporary Islamists. It horrifies.” The Taliban had proscribed the pursuit of happiness: “Music is banned in historic Qandahar which had once been famous for its bards and story tellers. Play is forbidden.”
Eqbal tells of a boy he saw paraded through the bazaar; a rope around his neck, hands on his shaven head. This unlucky lad had broken the Taliban’s law. “He had been caught red handed, I was told — playing ball. Football is forbidden under Taliban rule as are basketball, volleyball and other games involving the movement of body. Boys playing ball can constitute undue temptation to men.”
Walking through the bazaars, Eqbal observed: “They are stacked with small electronic products, including transistor radios. Yet, none is playing. These bazaars are devoid of music which is banned in Qandahar, in homes no less than in public. Television is similarly banned. Homes are regularly raided, and people are harshly punished for listening to music. The chowkidar in the house next door to mine was caught in the act, and badly mauled. He misses his recorder and the tapes of ‘sweet Afghan naghma.’”
But if the Taliban are a social cancer then what cocktail of chemotherapies can work to prevent a second recurrence? There is zero chance of a secular, pluralistic democracy. Tribal Afghan society, locked into primitive concepts of honour and revenge, is likely to remain unenlightened and torn apart by internal conflicts well into the distant future. So the real question is: what could be the least bad outcome? Since we Pakistanis must live with a theocracy next door, then one can only wish for a relatively enlightened version rather than a barbaric one.
A relatively peaceful future will require that power in post-withdrawal Afghanistan be pluralistically shared by the country’s diverse ethnic groups: Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek, etc. Else there will be civil war. Regional actors can and must prevent this, as well as prevent a repeat of earlier Taliban horrors. To this end, Pakistan should give up its craving for ‘strategic depth’, Iran should be brought in to the picture by the US as a helpful ally, India should refrain from intrusions into Afghanistan that might antagonise Pakistan, and China must not signal the Taliban that it can fund them in exchange for mining rights. None of this is likely but, still, why not ask for the moon. What else to do?
Published in The Express Tribune, March 26th, 2012.
Published: March 26, 2012
Ever since US Sergeant Robert Bales surrendered after calmly massacring Afghan women and children, he has been depicted as a man under unusual personal circumstances. A high-ranking US official told the New York Times: “When it all comes out, it will be a combination of stress, alcohol and domestic issues – he just snapped”. Unlike those sentenced to death by drones flying high over Waziristan, Bales will enjoy a thorough investigation. Whisked out of Afghanistan, he may or may not ever be convicted. If convicted, the penalty is unlikely to exceed a few prison years; “good behaviour” may qualify him for an early parole.
Although President Obama and Secretary Clinton habitually apologise to the Afghan people after every such atrocity — of which there is a long list — the fact that they happen is inevitable. Indian troops in Kashmir, and Pakistani soldiers in Balochistan, have not behaved any differently. At the core, the problem is the forcible occupation by an army of another country or people.
The Bales case has added one more reason for cash-strapped Americans to leave, speeding up the endgame. President Obama has announced plans to shift US forces to a supporting role next year and pull out most of the 90,000 U.S. troops in the country by late 2014, with 23,000 gone by this October. US Republicans — strong enthusiasts for overseas wars and interventions — are now criticising Obama for being too slow! Rick Santorum, a leading presidential candidate, said last week “We have to either make the decision to make a full commitment, which this president has not done, or we have to decide to get out, and probably get out sooner.” A day earlier, Newt Gingrich declared in even more direct terms that it was time to leave the country.
America’s “good war” — to be distinguished from the Iraq war — is rapidly collapsing and becoming more unpopular by the day. But it once had support across the world and military success had been almost instant. Weeks after 9/11 and the subsequent invasion of Afghanistan, al Qaeda was chased out and, eventually, bin Laden was killed. With time the earlier support evaporated. Except for Marine Gen. John Allen and a few others, the pretence that the US can win is almost over. It has been unable to create a stable, non-hostile Afghan government that could stop extremist groups from using Afghan territory once again. The Taliban are smelling victory.
But, much as one welcomes the US exit, America’s defeat will not be Afghanistan’s victory. The crimes of foreign occupation pale in front of the enormous crimes committed by the Taliban government, 1996-2001. Although the outside world knew the Taliban largely for having blown up the 2000-year old Bamiyan Buddha statues and their cruel treatment of women, their atrocities were far more widespread. Going from door to door, they had executed thousands in Mazar-i-Sharif after ascertaining that they were ethnic Hazaras or Shias. A 55-page UN report says that Mullah Omar’s men, while trying to consolidate control over northern and western Afghanistan, committed systematic massacres against civilians.Fifteen such massacres were committed during the period of the Taliban government until it was mercifully removed by the US invasion.
Eqbal Ahmed, who worked for Muslim causes from Palestine to Algeria, was by far the most perceptive and knowledgeable social activist and intellectual I have known. We had occasional disagreements but he too saw the Taliban as a social cancer that, if unchecked, would reduce Muslim society to medieval primitivism.
In 1998 — a year before he died — Eqbal had visited two cities under Taliban rule, Qandahar and Jalalabad. Soon after visiting a “land without music”, he wrote: “I have seen the future as envisioned by contemporary Islamists. It horrifies.” The Taliban had proscribed the pursuit of happiness: “Music is banned in historic Qandahar which had once been famous for its bards and story tellers. Play is forbidden.”
Eqbal tells of a boy he saw paraded through the bazaar; a rope around his neck, hands on his shaven head. This unlucky lad had broken the Taliban’s law. “He had been caught red handed, I was told — playing ball. Football is forbidden under Taliban rule as are basketball, volleyball and other games involving the movement of body. Boys playing ball can constitute undue temptation to men.”
Walking through the bazaars, Eqbal observed: “They are stacked with small electronic products, including transistor radios. Yet, none is playing. These bazaars are devoid of music which is banned in Qandahar, in homes no less than in public. Television is similarly banned. Homes are regularly raided, and people are harshly punished for listening to music. The chowkidar in the house next door to mine was caught in the act, and badly mauled. He misses his recorder and the tapes of ‘sweet Afghan naghma.’”
But if the Taliban are a social cancer then what cocktail of chemotherapies can work to prevent a second recurrence? There is zero chance of a secular, pluralistic democracy. Tribal Afghan society, locked into primitive concepts of honour and revenge, is likely to remain unenlightened and torn apart by internal conflicts well into the distant future. So the real question is: what could be the least bad outcome? Since we Pakistanis must live with a theocracy next door, then one can only wish for a relatively enlightened version rather than a barbaric one.
A relatively peaceful future will require that power in post-withdrawal Afghanistan be pluralistically shared by the country’s diverse ethnic groups: Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek, etc. Else there will be civil war. Regional actors can and must prevent this, as well as prevent a repeat of earlier Taliban horrors. To this end, Pakistan should give up its craving for ‘strategic depth’, Iran should be brought in to the picture by the US as a helpful ally, India should refrain from intrusions into Afghanistan that might antagonise Pakistan, and China must not signal the Taliban that it can fund them in exchange for mining rights. None of this is likely but, still, why not ask for the moon. What else to do?
Published in The Express Tribune, March 26th, 2012.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Ice-cold isolation in Bamiyan
Nelson police inspector Brian McGurk, in Afghanistan on secondment with a European Union mission, reports on the extreme winter conditions and stark isolation in the Islamic central Asian nation.
This week is Nawroz, a holiday for the first day of the Persian New Year, which usually falls on the vernal equinox and marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring in Bamiyan and across all of Afghanistan.
The locals in the Hazarajet have been describing this winter as the coldest for about 15 years and in the news have been reports of people freezing to death. The harshness of the winter and the physical isolation of Bamiyan from the rest of Afghanistan has been a vastly different experience from a Nelson winter.
The first winter snowfall arrived in Bamiyan at the end of November. There has been snow on the ground constantly since the end of December and it is only in the last week or so that the snow has began to recede. The heavy snowfalls in recent days are just a reminder that winter has not quite finished.
The temperature really didn't rise above freezing any time during January or February, traditionally the coldest months. The temperature in Bamiyan hover around -10 degrees Celsius to -15C in the bright winter sunshine and often plunges down to -25C to -30C in the shade or when the sun gets low in the sky. It got even colder with temperatures of -33C recorded a few times during February.
It is a very dry cold and surprisingly it often doesn't feel as cold as it really is....Continue Reading...
This week is Nawroz, a holiday for the first day of the Persian New Year, which usually falls on the vernal equinox and marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring in Bamiyan and across all of Afghanistan.
The locals in the Hazarajet have been describing this winter as the coldest for about 15 years and in the news have been reports of people freezing to death. The harshness of the winter and the physical isolation of Bamiyan from the rest of Afghanistan has been a vastly different experience from a Nelson winter.
The first winter snowfall arrived in Bamiyan at the end of November. There has been snow on the ground constantly since the end of December and it is only in the last week or so that the snow has began to recede. The heavy snowfalls in recent days are just a reminder that winter has not quite finished.
The temperature really didn't rise above freezing any time during January or February, traditionally the coldest months. The temperature in Bamiyan hover around -10 degrees Celsius to -15C in the bright winter sunshine and often plunges down to -25C to -30C in the shade or when the sun gets low in the sky. It got even colder with temperatures of -33C recorded a few times during February.
It is a very dry cold and surprisingly it often doesn't feel as cold as it really is....Continue Reading...
کمیسیون مستقل حقوق بشر افغانستان گزارش منازعه کوچی ها ومردم محل در ولسوالی ناهور ولایت غزنی
( 31/3/1390 الي 4/4/1390)
مقدمه
در یافت فایل با فارمت و
كميسيون مستقل حقوق بشرافغانستان از طريق دفتر ساحوي خويش در زون باميان، از چندين سال به اين طرف( حداقل از سال 1385 الي اكنون) همه ساله از روند منازعه كوچي ها و مردم محل در زون باميان نظارت نموده است. ماحصل اين نظارتهاي مداوم و پيگير، نشر گزارشهاي مستند و دقيق از ميزان تلفات انساني و غير انساني منازعه و ارائه پيشنهادات مشخص به دولت در قسمت حل دايمي اين منازعه بوده است. علي رغم تلاشها و پيشنهادهاي قانوني كميسيون مستقل حقوق بشر افغانستان به دولت جهت حل دايمي و ريشه اي اين قضيه، متاسفانه هنوز گام موثر و اساسي در راستاي حل اين منازعه برداشته نشده است. بلكه اين منازعه كه اكنون به شدت رنگ وبوي سياسي به خود گرفته و برخي حلقات ذي نفع سياسي از تشديد آن سود مي برند و بهره برداري مي كنند، همه ساله قربانيهاي بي شمار انساني و غير انساني را باعث مي شود.
استفاده از علفچرها ومراتع توسط کوچی ها در مناطق مركزي از همان آغاز توام با جنگها ومنازعات زیانبار بوده و قربانی های بی شماری را تا اکنون باعث شده است. در سالهاي گذشته محراق اين منازعه ولسوالي هاي حصه اول و دوم بهسود و دايميرداد ولايت ميدان وردك بود. كه طي آن تلفات انساني و خسارات وآسيب هاي مالي بيشماري بر مردم محل وارد آمد.[1]
امسال نيز منازعه كوچي ها با مردم محل با شدت بيشتر از پيش به تاريخ 27/3/1390 با حمله كوچي ها به مناطق مختلف " خوات" ولسوالي ناهور ولايت غزني آغاز شده و به مدت سه روز با شدت تمام ادامه يافت. نتيجه اين برخورد مسلحانه، تلفات انساني و خسارات مالي هنگفي بود كه در اين گزارش به صورت مستند و همه جانبه گرد آوري شده است.
دفتر ساحوي باميان كميسيون مستقل حقوق بشرافغانستان هيئت حقيقت يابي را به منظور نظارت از روند منازعه، بررسي ميزان خسارات وارده بر طرفين منازعه و پيگيري موارد نقض حقوق بشري آن، به تاريخ 31/3/1390 به ولسوالي ناهور ولايت غزني اعزام نمود. اين هيئت علاوه بر بازديد مستقيم از مناطق آسيب ديده، معلومات لازم را از ارگانهاي دولتي، نمايندگان مردم در شوراي ملي، نمايندگان مردم در شوراي ولايتي غزني، مسئولين پوليس ملي، شاهدان عيني و خانواده هاي متواري وآسيب ديده جمع آوري نموده است. آنچه در اين گزارش مي خوانيد ماحصل تحقيقات همه جانبه اين هيئت است كه با صداي شاهدان عيني و تصاوير مستند شده است.
[1] . در مورد پشينه تاريخي منازعه كوچي ها با مردم محل در مناطق مركزي و شمار تلفات انساني و خسارات مالي ناشي از برخوردهاي مسلحانه سالهاي گذشته، به گزارش سال 1389 كميسيون مستقل حقوق بشرافغانستان مراجعه نمائيد.
Link for REPORT
AIRHC
مقدمه
در یافت فایل با فارمت و
كميسيون مستقل حقوق بشرافغانستان از طريق دفتر ساحوي خويش در زون باميان، از چندين سال به اين طرف( حداقل از سال 1385 الي اكنون) همه ساله از روند منازعه كوچي ها و مردم محل در زون باميان نظارت نموده است. ماحصل اين نظارتهاي مداوم و پيگير، نشر گزارشهاي مستند و دقيق از ميزان تلفات انساني و غير انساني منازعه و ارائه پيشنهادات مشخص به دولت در قسمت حل دايمي اين منازعه بوده است. علي رغم تلاشها و پيشنهادهاي قانوني كميسيون مستقل حقوق بشر افغانستان به دولت جهت حل دايمي و ريشه اي اين قضيه، متاسفانه هنوز گام موثر و اساسي در راستاي حل اين منازعه برداشته نشده است. بلكه اين منازعه كه اكنون به شدت رنگ وبوي سياسي به خود گرفته و برخي حلقات ذي نفع سياسي از تشديد آن سود مي برند و بهره برداري مي كنند، همه ساله قربانيهاي بي شمار انساني و غير انساني را باعث مي شود.
استفاده از علفچرها ومراتع توسط کوچی ها در مناطق مركزي از همان آغاز توام با جنگها ومنازعات زیانبار بوده و قربانی های بی شماری را تا اکنون باعث شده است. در سالهاي گذشته محراق اين منازعه ولسوالي هاي حصه اول و دوم بهسود و دايميرداد ولايت ميدان وردك بود. كه طي آن تلفات انساني و خسارات وآسيب هاي مالي بيشماري بر مردم محل وارد آمد.[1]
امسال نيز منازعه كوچي ها با مردم محل با شدت بيشتر از پيش به تاريخ 27/3/1390 با حمله كوچي ها به مناطق مختلف " خوات" ولسوالي ناهور ولايت غزني آغاز شده و به مدت سه روز با شدت تمام ادامه يافت. نتيجه اين برخورد مسلحانه، تلفات انساني و خسارات مالي هنگفي بود كه در اين گزارش به صورت مستند و همه جانبه گرد آوري شده است.
دفتر ساحوي باميان كميسيون مستقل حقوق بشرافغانستان هيئت حقيقت يابي را به منظور نظارت از روند منازعه، بررسي ميزان خسارات وارده بر طرفين منازعه و پيگيري موارد نقض حقوق بشري آن، به تاريخ 31/3/1390 به ولسوالي ناهور ولايت غزني اعزام نمود. اين هيئت علاوه بر بازديد مستقيم از مناطق آسيب ديده، معلومات لازم را از ارگانهاي دولتي، نمايندگان مردم در شوراي ملي، نمايندگان مردم در شوراي ولايتي غزني، مسئولين پوليس ملي، شاهدان عيني و خانواده هاي متواري وآسيب ديده جمع آوري نموده است. آنچه در اين گزارش مي خوانيد ماحصل تحقيقات همه جانبه اين هيئت است كه با صداي شاهدان عيني و تصاوير مستند شده است.
[1] . در مورد پشينه تاريخي منازعه كوچي ها با مردم محل در مناطق مركزي و شمار تلفات انساني و خسارات مالي ناشي از برخوردهاي مسلحانه سالهاي گذشته، به گزارش سال 1389 كميسيون مستقل حقوق بشرافغانستان مراجعه نمائيد.
Link for REPORT
AIRHC
Thursday, March 22, 2012
AFGHAN STAR 2011/12 Grand Finale - broadcasted 20.03.12
Our heartfelt Congratulations to Raza Rezaee for winning the Afghan Star Award :)
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Two killed in Quetta firing
By: INP | March 19, 2012, 12:12 pm |
Unknown armed men gunned down two persons, a father and a son here in Quetta on Monday.
According to details, unidentified armed assailants opened fire at Yaqoob Shah and his son while they were sitting in their shop located in Qali Shaboo area of Quetta.
Both the father and the son were killed on the spot in the firing incident. The attackers fled the scene after committing dual murder.
The bodies were shifted to Civil Hospital Quetta for post-mortem.
The police registered a case against unknown murderers and started search for them.
THE NATION
Unknown armed men gunned down two persons, a father and a son here in Quetta on Monday.
According to details, unidentified armed assailants opened fire at Yaqoob Shah and his son while they were sitting in their shop located in Qali Shaboo area of Quetta.
Both the father and the son were killed on the spot in the firing incident. The attackers fled the scene after committing dual murder.
The bodies were shifted to Civil Hospital Quetta for post-mortem.
The police registered a case against unknown murderers and started search for them.
THE NATION
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