Negotiations successful, Mastung martyrs to be buried Friday
Sit-in protest along with dead bodies ended after 2 days.
QUETTA: (Dunya News) – Following assurance by federal ministers Chaudhry Nisar and Pervez Rasheed, Hazara community has ended its sit-in protest after almost 38 hours, Dunya News reported.
Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar and Information Minister Pervez Rasheed reached Quetta upon direction from the Prime Minister. After being briefed by Chief Minister Balochistan Abdul Malik Baloch about demands of the bereaved families, the federal ministers consoled with Hazara community and assured to do everything in its capacity to chase the perpetrators and bring them in the court of justice.
Federal ministers also said the Hazara community is peaceful and patriot adding the whole nation stands united in solidarity with the community. Chaudhry Nisar said that government has no objection over any demand of Hazara community. Government will avenge the injustices done to the community. Following the government’s assurance, leaders of the Hazara community ended the protest and announced the dead will be buried on Friday at 10 AM.
Earlier, in a high level session to discuss national peace and security, Thursday, Prime minister Nawaz Sharif has directed the Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar and Information Minister Pervez Rasheed to immediately reach Quetta to consol with protestors.
The meeting took place at prime minister house chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and attended by Defense Minister Khwaja Asif, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar, Information Minister Pervez Rasheed, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, National Security Advisor Sartaj Aziz and Tariq Fatmi. Also in attendance were Army Chief General Raheel Sharif, Director General (DG) Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) Lieutenant General Zia ul Islam, Chief of General Staff General Ashfaq Nadeem, DGMO Major General Amir Riaz, DGMI Major General Sarfraz Sattar.
The agenda included discussion on recent terrorist attacks including the ones in Bannu, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Mastung and Karachi.
In its briefing to the Prime Minister, military leadership have said that the army is prepared for any strategic operation or even to carry a full-fledged operation. Legislation with regards to curbing militancy also came under discussion during the session. Prime Minister directed the Interior Minister and Information minister to immediately reach Quetta.
Various options were considered during the session including strategic surgical strikes and a mass operation against terrorism. Prime Minister emphasized on improving intelligence correspondence as well.
Despite the bone-chilling weather, families of Mustung victims continue to stage sit-in along with the bodies of their loved ones in Quetta for the second consecutive day.
Meanwhile, hundreds of members of Shia community staged protests in different parts of the country including Lahore, Rawalpindi, Karachi, Rawalpindi and Multan.
The Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM) members blocked Mall road in Lahore and held sit-in outside Governor House.
In Rawalpindi, the Shias blocked Faizabad area of Islamabad.
Meanwhile, no one from federal government has so far reached Quetta to address the reservations of Hazara community. The Balochistan chief minister Dr Baloch failed to convince the bereaved families to end their protest on Alamdar Road in Quetta.
Despite freezing temperatures, the Hazara community vowed to continue protest till their demands were met.
