Govt urged to carry out targeted operation against religious extremists
By Hussain Kashif
LAHORE: Progressive people of Punjab and Hazara passed a joint resolution demanding the government carry out a ‘targeted operation’ like Karachi against the religious extremists involved in killing of Hazara Shiites in Balochistan, which is the only way to resolve this problem in the province.
Punjab Lok Sangat (PLS) in cooperation with Awami Party Pakistan and Institute for Peace & Secular Studies organized a seminar against the brutal killing and massacres of Hazara Shiites living in Balochistan since hundreds of years here at Lahore Press Club on Thursday. Senior journalist (Daily Times’ Editor) Rashed Rahman presided over the seminar while a representative of the Hazara community from Balochistan Muhammmad Ahmad Kohzar and PLS patron Amjad Saleem Minhas were the chief guests. Activists and workers of different non-governmental organizations, political parties including Communist Mazdoor Kisan Party, Awami Jamhoori Forum, Labour Party Pakistan, Anjuman-e-Taraqi Pasand Musanafeen and others also participated in the seminar in a large number.
The participants passed a resolution demanding the government to establish its writ in the province and carry out a targeted operation against religious extremists to stop the brutal killing of Hazara Shiites in Balochistan where more than 0.6 million citizens belonging to the Hazara community were facing a horrible situation since 2001 and hundreds of their members had been killed and burned.
The resolution further demanded the government end the insecurity among the Hazaras by taking action against the religious extremists in Balochistan and that the Pakistani establishment should stop its backing to these extremists (sectarian), who are totally anti-society and humanity, for using them for their own purposes of continuing the power-game in the country in general and in Balochistan specifically.
Earlier, addressing the gathering in his key speech, Rashed Rahman said that the Hazara community in Balochistan was one of the most peaceful and hardworking and was being targeted for the only purpose of strengthening Mullahism there. He said that the Hazara people were living in Balochistan since hundreds of years so they should be treated on equal basis as they were also the sons of the same soil like the Baloch and the Pashtuns.
Talking about the Afghan war and the Balochistan issue, Rashed Rahman said that politicians like Imran Khan who were saying that the war against terror was an American-imposed war were wrong as Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was the first person who directed General Naseerullah Babar at that time to prepare the Mujahiddin against Afghan President Sardar Muhammad Daoud Khan in 1973 because he (Bhutto) had a fear of his (Daoud) support to insurgents in Balochistan resisting the military operation. Later, some of these Pakistani-promoted Afghan leaders like Rabbani, Mujaddadi, Hekmatyar played prominent roles in the Afghan wars, he added.
Rashed Rehman further said that Tehreek-e-Taliban in Pakistan was the result of the Pakistani military’s policy of exporting jihad to Afghanistan. He clarified that ‘good’ Taliban and ‘bad’ Taliban were meaningless terms as all Taliban factions had a nexus and were linked to al Qaeda. He said that Punjab was a power centre of the establishment, representing 62 percent of the population of the country but unfortunately they were unaware about the affairs of Balochistan so there was a need to educate them on the issues, which was the only way to bring change in policies, politics or in the social order.
Hazara representative Muhammad Ahmad Kohzar while addressing the gathering clarified that the Hazara community of Balochistan had no link with the Hazara region (Abbottabad area). They (the Hazara people) are Turk-Mongol and were living in Balochistan since the age of Chengiz Khan, a Mongol Emperor, and most of them are religiously Shia Muslims, he confirmed. He also informed that more than 0.6 million Hazara people were living in Quetta city alone, while a good number of his community was in Afghanistan and Iran.
Kohzar told the audience that the Hazara people were being victimized in Balochistan since 2001 but they were peaceful people so would not want any clash with anyone or bloodshed on the streets of Quetta. He said that the Pakistani establishment was involved in the sectarian war in Balochistan and using extremists against the peaceful people of the area. He confirmed that the Baloch or Pashtuns of Balochistan had no problem with the Hazara people. He alleged that Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, a sectarian extremist organization backed by the establishment was directly involved in the killings of Hazara people and due to such victimisation, thousands of his people (Hazara) had left the country.
He emphasized that the government should establish its writ in Balochistan starting a ‘targeted operation’ against the sectarian culprits in Quetta, Mastung, Kharotabad and other districts. He further urged the government to change its foreign policy, avoiding considering Afghanistan as its province and should maintain good relations with Afghanistan and other neighbouring countries.
Amjad Saleem of PLS said that religious victimisation was increasing in Balochistan because of the neglect of the government and extremists had become more powerful against the state there. He assured the Hazara people that all progressive elements in Punjab and other parts of the country were fully in support so they should not consider themselves as alone. Syeda Deep, Shazia Khan, Irfan Comrade, Yousuf Punjabi, Zahid Hassan, Tahir Malik, Rafi Jamal were also present in the seminar while Khalid Mehmood of Awami Jamhoori Forum hosted the seminar.
Daily Times
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Would-be suicide bomber killed in Quetta
By: Bari Baloch | Published: November 06, 2011
QUETTA - A would-be suicide bomber was killed when his suicide vest exploded near an Imambargah in Hazara town of Quetta on Saturday while a convoy of Frontier Corps narrowly escaped a remote controlled bomb attack in the outskirts of provincial metropolis.
According to police sources, a suspected militant who was heading towards Imambargah Baqir located near Kirani Road of Hazara town, skidded and a huge blast occurred that rocked entire locality. As a result, the suspected terrorist was killed and his body parts scattered around the area. Luckily, no other person was hurt in the blast.
“It was a suicide blast as bomber was heading towards Imambargah to target it when his suicide vest exploded prematurely,” DIG police Quetta Hamid Shakeel told reporters.
Another police official seeking anonymity said the accused wanted to plant explosives to Imambargah when these went off. “The upper portion of the accused body has not been distorted,” he added.
Police and other law enforcement agencies rushed to the site soon after the incident and cordoned off the area.
Sources said the body parts of alleged suicide bomber were gathered and he was identified as Pervez Elahi, a resident of Dera Murad Jamali.
Bomb Disposal Squad sources said about 3 Kg explosives were used in the blast adding, that no material such as ball bearing, often used in suicide blast, were found in the vest.
Police and other law enforcement agencies were investigation the incident.
In another incident, a convoy of Frontier Corps Balochistan narrowly escaped a bomb attack at Mian Gundi area, in the outskirts of Quetta.
Sources said miscreants had planted explosives along the road which were detonated through a remote controlled device when FC convoy were passing through. No loss of life was reported except minor damage to a vehicle.
THE NATION
QUETTA - A would-be suicide bomber was killed when his suicide vest exploded near an Imambargah in Hazara town of Quetta on Saturday while a convoy of Frontier Corps narrowly escaped a remote controlled bomb attack in the outskirts of provincial metropolis.
According to police sources, a suspected militant who was heading towards Imambargah Baqir located near Kirani Road of Hazara town, skidded and a huge blast occurred that rocked entire locality. As a result, the suspected terrorist was killed and his body parts scattered around the area. Luckily, no other person was hurt in the blast.
“It was a suicide blast as bomber was heading towards Imambargah to target it when his suicide vest exploded prematurely,” DIG police Quetta Hamid Shakeel told reporters.
Another police official seeking anonymity said the accused wanted to plant explosives to Imambargah when these went off. “The upper portion of the accused body has not been distorted,” he added.
Police and other law enforcement agencies rushed to the site soon after the incident and cordoned off the area.
Sources said the body parts of alleged suicide bomber were gathered and he was identified as Pervez Elahi, a resident of Dera Murad Jamali.
Bomb Disposal Squad sources said about 3 Kg explosives were used in the blast adding, that no material such as ball bearing, often used in suicide blast, were found in the vest.
Police and other law enforcement agencies were investigation the incident.
In another incident, a convoy of Frontier Corps Balochistan narrowly escaped a bomb attack at Mian Gundi area, in the outskirts of Quetta.
Sources said miscreants had planted explosives along the road which were detonated through a remote controlled device when FC convoy were passing through. No loss of life was reported except minor damage to a vehicle.
THE NATION
MNA calls for fresh elections in Balochistan
Mumtaz Alvi
Sunday, November 06, 2011
ISLAMABAD: Nasir Ali Shah, a treasury bench legislator on Saturday called for fresh elections in Balochistan after the imposition of governor’s rule there, alleging the PPP-led coalition provincial government had miserably failed to deliver.
Adopting a unique way of protest against the provincial government, the lawmaker from Quetta linked his return to the National Assembly to the removal of the govt of Chief Minister Muhammad Aslam Raisani’s, whom he labelled as a king. He said that he sits outside parliament House, when the assembly is in session.
“Raisani is heading a province that faces multiple challenges, and on the top of all, is law and order and terrorism. But he spends most of his time in Islamabad. This shows how committed and serious he is towards provincial matters,” he said.
Shah also proposed to this correspondent to study the statements of the chief minister, which he had been issuing after the occurrence of terrorist acts in the province.
He expressed the resolve to continue his agitation as long as the incumbent set-up remained imposed on the troubled Balochistan province.
When asked if there was any positive signal from Islamabad in the wake of his boycott, he replied in the negative. However, he added Interior Minister A Rehman Malik recently paid a visit to Quetta, which he said was uncalled for.
“My demand is removal of the present provincial government, imposition of governor’s rule and holding of fresh election in Balochistan and I will stick to it. People are being killed and terrorists are free to get away with it, as and when it pleases them,” Shah lamented.
He strongly believed the only solution to fighting compounding problems in the province was to hold fresh elections. He pointed out Balochistan-based political parties had also started endorsing his demand and in this context, he referred to the Balochistan National Party’s stance.
Replying to a question whether it would be prudent to hold a provincial assembly election, when there was a talk of general elections sometime next year, he counter-questioned, “Should we let innocent people being killed till that time. There is a serious governance problem, which must be addressed through polls.”
He noted only the other day, eight mutilated bodies were found from interior Balochistan, whereas the situation in Quetta and elsewhere was also alarming.
Shah contended the killing of Hazara people has continued unabated since 2001 and it intensified in recent years but the provincial government lacked political will to take this challenge head on.
THE NEWS
Sunday, November 06, 2011
ISLAMABAD: Nasir Ali Shah, a treasury bench legislator on Saturday called for fresh elections in Balochistan after the imposition of governor’s rule there, alleging the PPP-led coalition provincial government had miserably failed to deliver.
Adopting a unique way of protest against the provincial government, the lawmaker from Quetta linked his return to the National Assembly to the removal of the govt of Chief Minister Muhammad Aslam Raisani’s, whom he labelled as a king. He said that he sits outside parliament House, when the assembly is in session.
“Raisani is heading a province that faces multiple challenges, and on the top of all, is law and order and terrorism. But he spends most of his time in Islamabad. This shows how committed and serious he is towards provincial matters,” he said.
Shah also proposed to this correspondent to study the statements of the chief minister, which he had been issuing after the occurrence of terrorist acts in the province.
He expressed the resolve to continue his agitation as long as the incumbent set-up remained imposed on the troubled Balochistan province.
When asked if there was any positive signal from Islamabad in the wake of his boycott, he replied in the negative. However, he added Interior Minister A Rehman Malik recently paid a visit to Quetta, which he said was uncalled for.
“My demand is removal of the present provincial government, imposition of governor’s rule and holding of fresh election in Balochistan and I will stick to it. People are being killed and terrorists are free to get away with it, as and when it pleases them,” Shah lamented.
He strongly believed the only solution to fighting compounding problems in the province was to hold fresh elections. He pointed out Balochistan-based political parties had also started endorsing his demand and in this context, he referred to the Balochistan National Party’s stance.
Replying to a question whether it would be prudent to hold a provincial assembly election, when there was a talk of general elections sometime next year, he counter-questioned, “Should we let innocent people being killed till that time. There is a serious governance problem, which must be addressed through polls.”
He noted only the other day, eight mutilated bodies were found from interior Balochistan, whereas the situation in Quetta and elsewhere was also alarming.
Shah contended the killing of Hazara people has continued unabated since 2001 and it intensified in recent years but the provincial government lacked political will to take this challenge head on.
THE NEWS
کوئٹہ ،’خود کش حملہ آور‘ ہلاک
آخری وقت اشاعت: ہفتہ 5 نومبر 2011 , 12:06 GMT 17:06 PST
کوئٹہ میں ہزارہ ٹاؤن میں ایک امام بارگاہ پر حملہ کرنے کی کوشش میں خود کش حملہ آور ہلاک ہو گیا ہے۔
کوئٹہ سے بی بی سی کے نامہ نگار ایوب ترین کےمطابق سنیچر کو کوئٹہ کے ہزارہ ٹاؤ ن میں ایک امام بارگاہ کے قریب دھماکہ ہوا ہے جس میں اب تک کی اطلاعات کے مطابق ایک شخص ہلاک ہوا ہے۔
ڈپٹی انسپکٹرجنر ل پولیس (آپریشن ) کوئٹہ حامد شکیل کےمطابق دھماکے میں ہلاک ہونے والا خود کش حملہ آور تھا جس کو امام بارگاہ پہنچنے سے قبل سیکورٹی فورسز نے روکنے کی کوشش کی تو اس نے تواس خود کو دھماکے سے اڑا لیا۔
تاہم ابھی تک دھماکے میں زخمی ہونے والوں کی تعداد کے بارے میں کوئی معلومات سامنے نہیں آئی ہیں۔
یاد رہے کہ عید الفطر کے دن بھی مری آباد علمدار روڈ پر ایک خودکش حملہ آور نے اس وقت خود کو اڑایا لیا تھا جب لوگ نماز عید پڑنے کے بعد واپس گھروں کی طرف جا رہے تھے۔
دھماکے میں تیرہ افراد ہلاک ہوئے تھے جن میں بچے اور خواتین بھی شامل تھیں۔ جن میں سے اکثرکا تعلق شعیہ مسلک اور ہزارہ قوم سے تھا۔
BBC URDU
کوئٹہ میں ہزارہ ٹاؤن میں ایک امام بارگاہ پر حملہ کرنے کی کوشش میں خود کش حملہ آور ہلاک ہو گیا ہے۔
کوئٹہ سے بی بی سی کے نامہ نگار ایوب ترین کےمطابق سنیچر کو کوئٹہ کے ہزارہ ٹاؤ ن میں ایک امام بارگاہ کے قریب دھماکہ ہوا ہے جس میں اب تک کی اطلاعات کے مطابق ایک شخص ہلاک ہوا ہے۔
ڈپٹی انسپکٹرجنر ل پولیس (آپریشن ) کوئٹہ حامد شکیل کےمطابق دھماکے میں ہلاک ہونے والا خود کش حملہ آور تھا جس کو امام بارگاہ پہنچنے سے قبل سیکورٹی فورسز نے روکنے کی کوشش کی تو اس نے تواس خود کو دھماکے سے اڑا لیا۔
تاہم ابھی تک دھماکے میں زخمی ہونے والوں کی تعداد کے بارے میں کوئی معلومات سامنے نہیں آئی ہیں۔
یاد رہے کہ عید الفطر کے دن بھی مری آباد علمدار روڈ پر ایک خودکش حملہ آور نے اس وقت خود کو اڑایا لیا تھا جب لوگ نماز عید پڑنے کے بعد واپس گھروں کی طرف جا رہے تھے۔
دھماکے میں تیرہ افراد ہلاک ہوئے تھے جن میں بچے اور خواتین بھی شامل تھیں۔ جن میں سے اکثرکا تعلق شعیہ مسلک اور ہزارہ قوم سے تھا۔
BBC URDU
Pictures of Failed Suicide Bomber (Warning: Contain disturbing pictures)
Suicide Bomber who wanted to bomb Hazara Town, blew himself prematurely killing himself...
Suicide blast rocks Quetta
A suicide bomber blew himself up in Barori area of Quetta near a worship place of Hazara community after being identified by police on Saturday. Police said that the bomber apparently wanted to target Imam Bargah but detonated his explosive laden vest after being failed to break into the worship place. However, witness the report saying there was no police official near the Imam Bargah. Heavy contingent of police and the Frontier Constabulary (FC) rushed to the spot and cordoned off the area following the incident.
DAWN
DAWN
Premature blast kills suicide bomber in Pakistan
QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) — Police say a suicide bomber targeting the country's Shiite minority has killed himself in a premature explosion in southwestern Pakistan.
Hamid Shakeel, deputy inspector general in Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan province, says the Saturday incident took place on the outskirts of the city.
He says a man in his twenties was heading toward a Shiite mosque when his explosive-rigged suicide vest went off prematurely, a little short of his apparent target.
In recent years, al-Qaida-linked Sunni militant groups have targeted the country's Shiite minority in suicide bombings and in shootings. Baluchistan has recently been a center of this violence, with at least four major attacks against Shiites since May.
Associated Press
Hamid Shakeel, deputy inspector general in Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan province, says the Saturday incident took place on the outskirts of the city.
He says a man in his twenties was heading toward a Shiite mosque when his explosive-rigged suicide vest went off prematurely, a little short of his apparent target.
In recent years, al-Qaida-linked Sunni militant groups have targeted the country's Shiite minority in suicide bombings and in shootings. Baluchistan has recently been a center of this violence, with at least four major attacks against Shiites since May.
Associated Press
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