Sunday, February 17, 2013
Outrage across country at Quetta carnage
From the Newspaper | Dawn Report
Shias mourn the death of relatives as they gather with coffins of bomb attack victims during a protest in Quetta on February 17, 2013. — Photo by AFP
•Death toll tops 84 •Army deployment sought: Outrage across country at Quetta carnage
Outrage over Quetta massacre erupted all over the country on Sunday with people expressing solidarity with the Hazara community and demanding immediate steps to punish the culprits.
Demonstrations and sit-ins were held in most cities and towns in the country. There were calls for handing over Quetta to army to protect the life and property of the people, particularly of the Hazara Shia community.
Quetta and several other towns in Balochistan closed in protest and in Karachi a call was given for a strike in the city on Monday. Traders and transporters supported the strike call. Schools in the city will remain closed.
Saleem Shahid adds from Quetta: The Saturday carnage toll rose to 84 on Sunday but the bodies of the victims were not buried and some Shia organisations said the burial would take place only after Quetta was handed over to the army.
At least 169 people, including women and children, were injured in the massive explosion that rocked the entire city and destroyed four markets and 100 shops. A further rise in the toll is feared as, according to hospital sources, over 20 men and women with critical injuries are battling for their lives.
Leaders of the Shia community criticised the federal government and the Balochistan administration under the governor’s rule for having failed to act effectively against the terrorists involved in attacks on the Hazaras.
Tehrik Nifaz-i-Fiqa Jafria chief Agha Syed Hamid Ali Shah Moosvi, in a statement issued in Rawalpindi, urged the government to admit that it had failed to provide security to people.
The TNFJ leader said things were going from bad to worse and if the government was not able to protect the Hazara people from terrorists, it should provide them weapons and military training and enable them to defend themselves against the onslaught of sectarian terrorism.
“The toll has risen to 84 after some seriously injured people died at the Combined Military Hospital,” DIG Wazir Khan Nasar told Dawn.
But unofficial sources put the death toll at 96.
Over 70 bodies were handed over to families of the victims. But around a dozen bodies, charred beyond recognition, are lying in the morgue of the hospital.
“DNA test would be conducted to establish their identity,” hospital sources said.
Twenty people were missing, according to leaders of the Hazara community.
Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen, Balochistan Shia Conference and Milli Yakjehti Council failed to reach an agreement on burying the victims.
The Majlis leadership said no burial would take place until the army was deployed to protect the Hazara community and a targeted operation was launched against the banned organisation behind such attacks.
But leaders of the Milli Yakjehti Council wanted the dead to be buried but supported the demands made by the Majlis. Sources said a final decision would be taken on Monday.
The bodies have been kept in Imambargah of Hazara Town and in an open place adjacent to the graveyard in the town.
Meanwhile, about 2500 women of the Hazara community took out a procession and held a demonstration in protest against the carnage. Later, they held a sit-in with coffins of the bodies. They said they would not allow the burial until the city was given army’s control.
The Majlis leaders took part in the sit-in. Addressing a news conference, Majlis leader Daud Agha said the community had been pushed against the wall.
Also on Sunday, a gathering was held in connection with the Chehlum of the victims of Jan 10 Alamdar Road terrorist attacks.
Talking to reporters on the occasion, Allama Sajid Naqvi of the Islami Tehrik-i-Pakistan said: “Killing of Shia people in bomb blasts and other terrorist attacks has been continuing unabated for several years because of the government’s abject failure to act decisively to punish terrorists.”
He called upon the government to expose the sponsors of terrorism and uproot their network.
Abdul Qayyum Changezi of the council urged the Supreme Court of Pakistan to take notice of bomb blasts and other heinous crimes in Balochistan.
Around 100 people were killed in the Jan 10 twin blasts and their bodies were not buried until Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf reached Quetta and announced dismissal of the provincial government and imposition of governor’s rule in the province.
Chief Secretary of Balochistan Babar Yaqoob Fateh Mohammad visited the hospital on Sunday and enquired after the health of the injured. He said arrangements had been made to take seriously injured people to Karachi.
Heavy contingents of Frontier Corps, Balochistan Constabulary and police patrolled the city. A large number of law-enforcement personnel was deployed in and around Hazara Town, Alamdar Road and other areas.
Roads leading to Alamdar Road and Hazara Town were blocked with containers and barricades.
Shias mourn the death of relatives as they gather with coffins of bomb attack victims during a protest in Quetta on February 17, 2013. — Photo by AFP
•Death toll tops 84 •Army deployment sought: Outrage across country at Quetta carnage
Outrage over Quetta massacre erupted all over the country on Sunday with people expressing solidarity with the Hazara community and demanding immediate steps to punish the culprits.
Demonstrations and sit-ins were held in most cities and towns in the country. There were calls for handing over Quetta to army to protect the life and property of the people, particularly of the Hazara Shia community.
Quetta and several other towns in Balochistan closed in protest and in Karachi a call was given for a strike in the city on Monday. Traders and transporters supported the strike call. Schools in the city will remain closed.
Saleem Shahid adds from Quetta: The Saturday carnage toll rose to 84 on Sunday but the bodies of the victims were not buried and some Shia organisations said the burial would take place only after Quetta was handed over to the army.
At least 169 people, including women and children, were injured in the massive explosion that rocked the entire city and destroyed four markets and 100 shops. A further rise in the toll is feared as, according to hospital sources, over 20 men and women with critical injuries are battling for their lives.
Leaders of the Shia community criticised the federal government and the Balochistan administration under the governor’s rule for having failed to act effectively against the terrorists involved in attacks on the Hazaras.
Tehrik Nifaz-i-Fiqa Jafria chief Agha Syed Hamid Ali Shah Moosvi, in a statement issued in Rawalpindi, urged the government to admit that it had failed to provide security to people.
The TNFJ leader said things were going from bad to worse and if the government was not able to protect the Hazara people from terrorists, it should provide them weapons and military training and enable them to defend themselves against the onslaught of sectarian terrorism.
“The toll has risen to 84 after some seriously injured people died at the Combined Military Hospital,” DIG Wazir Khan Nasar told Dawn.
But unofficial sources put the death toll at 96.
Over 70 bodies were handed over to families of the victims. But around a dozen bodies, charred beyond recognition, are lying in the morgue of the hospital.
“DNA test would be conducted to establish their identity,” hospital sources said.
Twenty people were missing, according to leaders of the Hazara community.
Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen, Balochistan Shia Conference and Milli Yakjehti Council failed to reach an agreement on burying the victims.
The Majlis leadership said no burial would take place until the army was deployed to protect the Hazara community and a targeted operation was launched against the banned organisation behind such attacks.
But leaders of the Milli Yakjehti Council wanted the dead to be buried but supported the demands made by the Majlis. Sources said a final decision would be taken on Monday.
The bodies have been kept in Imambargah of Hazara Town and in an open place adjacent to the graveyard in the town.
Meanwhile, about 2500 women of the Hazara community took out a procession and held a demonstration in protest against the carnage. Later, they held a sit-in with coffins of the bodies. They said they would not allow the burial until the city was given army’s control.
The Majlis leaders took part in the sit-in. Addressing a news conference, Majlis leader Daud Agha said the community had been pushed against the wall.
Also on Sunday, a gathering was held in connection with the Chehlum of the victims of Jan 10 Alamdar Road terrorist attacks.
Talking to reporters on the occasion, Allama Sajid Naqvi of the Islami Tehrik-i-Pakistan said: “Killing of Shia people in bomb blasts and other terrorist attacks has been continuing unabated for several years because of the government’s abject failure to act decisively to punish terrorists.”
He called upon the government to expose the sponsors of terrorism and uproot their network.
Abdul Qayyum Changezi of the council urged the Supreme Court of Pakistan to take notice of bomb blasts and other heinous crimes in Balochistan.
Around 100 people were killed in the Jan 10 twin blasts and their bodies were not buried until Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf reached Quetta and announced dismissal of the provincial government and imposition of governor’s rule in the province.
Chief Secretary of Balochistan Babar Yaqoob Fateh Mohammad visited the hospital on Sunday and enquired after the health of the injured. He said arrangements had been made to take seriously injured people to Karachi.
Heavy contingents of Frontier Corps, Balochistan Constabulary and police patrolled the city. A large number of law-enforcement personnel was deployed in and around Hazara Town, Alamdar Road and other areas.
Roads leading to Alamdar Road and Hazara Town were blocked with containers and barricades.
Saturday, February 16, 2013
کوئٹہ کے ہزارہ ٹاؤن میں دھماکہ، 54 ہلاک 178 زخمی
آخری وقت اشاعت: ہفتہ 16 فروری 2013 , 16:22 GMT 21:22 PST
گورنر راج کے نفاذ کے بعد یہ ہزاری برادری کے خلاف سب سے بڑا دہشت گردی کا واقعہ ہے
پاکستان کے صوبہ بلوچستان کے دارالحکومت کوئٹہ میں پولیس کے مطابق بم دھماکے کے نتیجے میں چون افراد ہلاک جبکہ ایک سو اناسی سے زیادہ زخمی ہو گئے ہیں۔
بلوچستان پولیس کے ترجمان ڈی آئی جی انویسٹی گیشن فیاض سنبل نے بی بی سی سے بات کرتے ہوئے ان ہلاکتوں اور زخمی افراد کی تصدیق کی ہے۔
اس سے قبل بلوچستان کے ڈی آئی جی وزیر خان ناصر نے بی بی سی کو تفصیلات بتاتے ہوئے بتایا کہ یہ دھماکہ کوئٹہ کے علاقے ہزارہ ٹاؤن میں ہوا جہاں ہزارہ برادری سے تعلق رکھنے والے افراد رہتے ہیں۔
انہوں نے بتایا کہ یہ ایک ریمورٹ کنٹرول بم تھا جسے سڑک کے کنارے پر نصب کیا گیا تھا۔
ہلاک اور زخمی ہونے والوں کو قریب ہی واقع بولان میڈیکل کمپلیکس اور سی ایم ایچ کوئٹہ لیجایا گیا ہے اور ان میں خواتین اور بچے بھی شامل ہیں۔
بڑی تعداد میں زخمیوں کی وجہ سے یہ خدشہ ظاہر کیا جا رہا ہے کہ ہلاکتوں کی تعداد بڑھ سکتی ہے۔
ہزارہ ٹاؤن سے تعلق رکھنے والے قادر نائل نے بتایا کہ ’یہ دھماکہ جس علاقے میں ہوا وہ کرانی روڈ سے متصل ہے اور اس کے ایک جانب ہزارہ ٹاؤن اور دوسری جانب نیو ہزارہ ٹاؤن ہے۔‘
قادر نے مزید بتایا کہ یہ علاقہ شام کے اوقات میں انتہائی مصروف ہوتا جہاں گھریلو خواتین بڑی تعداد میں سبزی اور فروٹ کی خریداری کے لیے آتی ہیں۔ اس علاقے میں اے بڑی سبزی اور فروٹ کی ریڑھیوں کی منڈی لگتی ہے جس کی وجہ سے بہت رش ہوتا ہے۔ اس کے علاوہ اس کے ساتھ ہی ایک میدان ہے جس میں نوجوان والی بال اور ایک ہزارہ روایتی کھیل کھیلتے ہیں۔‘
اس دھماکے کی زمہ داری کالعدم تنظیم لشکرِ جھنگوی کے ترجمان نے بی بی سی کو فون کر کے قبول کی ہے۔
بلوچستان میں گورنر راج کے نفاذ کے بعد ہزارہ برادری کے افراد کے خلاف یہ سب سے بڑا دہشت گردی کا واقعہ ہے۔
یاد رہے کہ دس جنوری کو علمدار روڈ پر ہونے والے دو بم دھماکوں کے بعد ہزارہ برادری سے تعلق رکھنے والے افراد نے اپنی میتوں کو دفن کرنے سے انکار کرتے ہوئے کئی روز تک دھرنا دیا۔
اس دھرنے کا اختتام بلوچستان میں نواب اسلم رئیسانی کی حکومت کے خاتمے اور گورنر راج کے نفاذ کے فیصلے کے بعد کیا گیا تھا۔
20 killed, 157 injured in blast on Kirani Road in Quetta
Published: February 16, 2013
Contest agreements reached over Reko Diq and Gwadar deep sea port.
QUETTA: At least twenty people were killed and over 157 injured in a blast on Kariani Road in Quetta on Saturday, Express News has reported. The area is reported to be located near Hazara Town.
Sources told Express News that women and children are also amongst the casualties.
Security forces and the Bomb Disposal Squad have cordoned off the area, fearing another blast. A search operation has also been launched.
The relief teams were allowed in only after the bomb site was cleared.
Officials said most of the dead were members of Hazara shia minority.
Due to lack of rescue services, people are moving the injured victims to hospitals on Alamdar road by themselves.
Emergency has been declared at Civil, Civil-Military Hospital and Bolan Medical Complex (BMC) hospitals.
The injured have been shifted the CMH where many of them are reportedly in serious condition.
“Dozens of people were also injured. We have announced an emergency in hospitals,” Provincial home secretary Akbar Hussain Durrani said.
“It was a remote-controlled bomb,” Wazir Khan Nasir, senior police officer in Quetta, told AFP.
Durrani confirmed the incident and told AFP that the dead included women and children.
Express Tribune
15 killed in blast on Kirani Road in Quetta
By Web Desk
Published: February 16, 2013
Contest agreements reached over Reko Diq and Gwadar deep sea port.
QUETTA: At least fifteen people were killed in a blast on Kariani Road in Quetta on Saturday, Express News has reported. The area is reported to be located near Hazara Town.
Sources told Express News that women and children are also amongst the casualties.
Security forces and the Bomb Disposal Squad have cordoned off the area, fearing another blast.
The relief teams were allowed in, only after the bomb site was cleared.
A large number of people have reportedly been injured as a result of the blast. Due to lack of rescue services, people are moving the injured victims to hospitals on Alamdar road by themselves.
Emergency has been declared at Civil, CMH and BMC hospitals and many of the injured victims are reportedly in serious condition.
Express News
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