Pictorial Report; Brussels Protests against Genocide of Hazaras in Quetta, Pakistan

Brussels protests as part of worldwide protests against genocide of Hazaras in Quetta, Pakistan.

Pictorial Report; Daikundi Protests against Genocide of Hazaras in Quetta, Pakistan

Daikundi Protests as part of worldwide protests against genocide of Hazaras in Quetta, Pakistan

Pictorial Report; Asylum seekers in Indonesia protest against genocide of Hazaras in Quetta, Pakistan

Asylum seekers in Indonesia protests against genocide of Hazaras in Quetta, Pakistan

Pictorial Report; Bamiyan Protests against Hazaras genocide in Quetta, Pakistan

Bamiyan protests as part of worldwide protests against genocide of Hazaras in Quetta, Pakistan

Labelled as “infidels”, minority Shiite group tracked down and killed in Pakistan

Hazara womend protest in Quetta on April 19. Photo by our Observer, Basit Ali.

The simple act of walking in the streets of Quetta, the capital of Pakistan’s western Balochistan province, can have deadly consequences for the city’s Hazara community. The Hazaras, who are predominately Shiite Muslims, have been labelled “infidels” by extremist Sunnis, who hold a significant amount of power in the region. For the past 20 years, our Observer has lived with the daily threat of violence because of his religion – a threat that claimed the life of one more victim just this Monday.

Monday’s death came on the heels of a terrorist attack on Saturday, April 14, which left nine Hazaras dead. The act was claimed by Pakistan’s extremist Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, a group with ties to both the Taliban and al-Qaeda, which has targeted the region’s Hazara population. Just one week before, religious violence claimed the lives of nine other Hazaras....Continue Reading.... 

Pictures of target killer hunted by Police in Quetta, Pakistan

The spokesperson of terrorist organization Lej who were involved in target killings were killed in a crossfire with Police in Quetta. 

Quetta in focus: Police hunt down ‘two target killers’

By Shehzad Baloch
Published: April 24, 2012


CM Raisani announces half a million rupees for the police. PHOTO: FILE
QUETTA:

The city police killed two alleged target killers in an encounter near the Akhtarabad neighbourhood of Hazara Town on Monday. A police official was also injured in the clash.

Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani announced half a million rupees for the police party which took part in the operation, in addition to promising them a promotion to next rank.

Narrating details, Deputy Inspector General (DIG-Operations) Qazi Wahid said that the police signaled a car to stop near Akhtarabad for a routine search. However, the car tried to speed away, arousing suspicion. After a brief chase the police called in the Anti Terrorism Force (ATF).

The alleged militants travelling in the car opened fire at the police, critically injuring Constable Riaz. Police retaliated and in the ensuing firefight two militants were killed.

“Police have recovered six pistols, including 9mm pistols, a Russian-made grenade, seven fake registration numbers and two National Identity Cards (NICs) from the militants,” said Qazi.

‘Nefarious designs’

The bodies were later shifted to Bolan Medical Complex (BMC) for autopsy. The identity of the suspects could not be determined as investigations were still under way.

“They were target killers, who wanted to target more people in Quetta” asserted DIG Qazi.

Responding to a query, he said the recovered ID cards were either fake or seemed to have been stolen and had been sent to the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) for verification.

Six target killers have so far been arrested by the law enforcement agencies in Quetta, after strict security measures were put in place in the aftermath of the recent targeting of the Hazara community.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 24th, 2012.