International Shia News Agency

Hazara Shia – Quetta in mourning over death of five martyrs

SHAFAQNA - Shutter down strike was observed in Quetta against various incidents of target killing on Monday.
The strike call was given by Hazara Democratic Party and Balochistan Shia Conference whereas National Party, Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (MAP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) announced to support the strike.
Markets remained closed in the metropolis whereas traffic was also rare on the roads. For maintaining law and order situation in the city, Frontier Corps (FC) and police officials were deployed in various areas.
A couple of days back, at least six people of Hazara community were killed in firing incident in Bacha Khan Chowk and one was killed at Fatima Jinnah Road. Protest by the families of the victims continued throughout the night.
Meanwhile, Balochistan Home Minister Sarfraz Bugti said that foreign intelligence agencies including Indian Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) are conspiring against Pakistan after the historic China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) agreement. He expressed these views in a press conference held at the Capital City Police (CCP) office.
The minister said that as many as three terrorists have been arrested who were involved in target killings of police officials and attacks on airbases. He said that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself talks about terrorism.
Bugti said that operations are being conducted against militants. Situation in Balochistan is being pushed to worse end by hatching conspiracies, he added. He said that the Balochistan Police conducted an operation near eastern by-pass and apprehended at least three terrorists belonging to banned outfit.
He said that Ali Gul alias Ubaida Pathan who is among the arrested was wanted in at least eight target killings cases and a bounty of Rs1 million was offered by the government for his arrest. 
Rehman Wali alias Rehman was involved in Khalid Airbase and PAF Airbase attacks and belongs to Meran Shah in Waziristan, he added. He said that Zafarullah alias Muzaffar was wanted in as many as four different cases.
The arrested terrorists were presented before the media. The security personnel have also seized weapons from their possession.
The Home Minister further said that as many as two policemen have been arrested while Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and Station House Officer (SHO) suspended for negligence that lead to Bacha Khan Chowk incident.
CCPO Quetta, Abdul Razzaq Cheema said that two constables who were deputed on circular road Quetta for security of Hazara traders have been arrested for negligence of duty as they did not take action against the targeted killers who shot killed five Hazara traders last Sunday.
“We had provided police security to 300 shops of Hazara traders in main city areas, but the two security constables deployed for the purpose showed negligence and did not perform their due duty when the armed men attacked the shop on Circular road,” he said
Following recent wave of drive-by shootings, target killings, and other acts of terrorism in the provincial capital, the government of Balochistan outlawed motorcycle pillion riding in Quetta for a week.
The Balochistan Home Department, in a notification issued, said that the ban follows the imposition of Section 144 of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). The measure has been taken over security concerns.
Earlier on Sunday, gunmen killed five people after storming two tea shops belonging to the Hazara Shiite Muslim community of Quetta.

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