Mastung Tragedy: Bereaved families stage sit-in protest, refuse to bury dead
Decision to end the protest was not made even after negotiations with CM Balochistan.
Quetta: (Dunya News) – The bereaved families of those martyred in terrorist attack on Tuesday staged a sit-in protest refusing to bury the corpses. Chief Minister Balochistan Dr Abdul Malik reached Shuhuda Chowk to sympathize with the families after which negotiations with Hazara community took place. The sit-in protest was not ended even after the appeal of chief minister.
The demands of the families include a targeted operation against terrorists as they believe the government has completely failed to protect the citizens.
Sympathizing with the grieving families, chief minister said that Quetta is surrounded by terrorists and provincial government will do whatever it can to protect the citizens. Hazara community was represented by Abdul Khaliq Hazara who informed the chief minister about the community’s reservations and demanded crackdown against terrorists. However, the two could not reach an understanding to end the protest. Representatives of Hazara community said that a decision will only be taken after consultation. Central leader of Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen and member national assembly Agha Raza Hassan said that the protest will continue until a representative of federal government comes forward to assure protection.
On the other hand, Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen also staged a protest at Numaish Chowrangi Karachi. A large number of women and children participated in the sit-in protest. The protesters demanded the imminent arrest of those responsible for Mastung massacre, adding that the government should also take steps to curb the growing wave of terrorism and target killing in the country; and that the bereaved families be compensated.
At least 28 pilgrims were killed in a suicide attack on 2 buses en route from Iran to Quetta on Tuesday. It is pertinent to mention here that this wasn’t a first attack on pilgrims in Balochistan. Terrorists have killed dozens in similar incidents. Earlier this month, on January 1, 2014, a similar attack had left 3 dead and 49 injured. Prior to that, another attack took place on October 26, 2013 also in Mastung, 2 security personnel were hit and subsequently martyred while successfully foiling the attempt to blow the bus with explosives. In another incident on December 30, 2012, 19 pilgrims were martyred while injuring several others. Same year on December 21, another attack on bus claimed 3 lives. On December 19 also in 2012, another attack on pilgrims’ bus had claimed 3 lives and injured many.
Same year, on June 8 2013, another bus en route to Iran carrying pilgrims was targeted resulting in martyrdom of 6; while another bus was blown with remote control explosive on June 11.
