HAZARA KILLINGS IN PAKISTAN
Since 1890, the citizens of Hazaras have been in fear and terror. It has been almost 130 years. Many citizens of Hazaras were replaced after the genocide that was initiated in Hazara. In the current situation, the community of Hazara had to face countless persecution for more than 20 years. Hazara community has been targeted by various terrorist groups. Over 2000 people from the Hazara community were killed in the past 14 years. There have been countless attacks on the people of the Hazara community in the city of Quetta and other places in Pakistan over the last 20 years. Lashkar e Jangvi and other terrorist groups played a huge role in eradicating peace in this community. These killings are not a new thing, the violence initiated in the early 2000s. Attacks that were done on the Hazara community mainly included suicide bombings, target killings, and many more. Hazara community are not living their lives normally, they are under attack. In the year 2012, the ratio of the number of people killed increased by a significant number. These people mainly were Shia members across Pakistan. Apart from this, these people included the Hazara community as well. These attacks have a huge impact on the cultural as well as the economic life of the Hazara community.
To secure the safety of this community, the soldiers and security check posts were placed in every part of this town. Although these checkpoints were placed for the security of the Hazara community it harms the community itself. Sardar Sahil, a Hazara lawyer stated that:
“Though all these checkpoints were established for our security, we feel we were ourselves also cut off from other community”
The timeline of all the attacks that happened in the Hazara Community are as followed:
2nd March 2004:
This incident that happened in Quetta left 24 people dead. The terrorist group attacked the Ashura procession. An of people were injured in this incident. This all was initiated by a hand grenade. It was then followed by firing. Later it was comprehended that most of the people that were killed and injured in this incident were from Hazara.
26th January 2009:
Hussain Ali Yousaf, who was the chairman of the Hazara Democratic party got killed.
September 2009:
Engineer Ahmed Ali Najaf was pulled out of his car and he was shot to death.
October 2009:
A Hazara lawyer, Walayat Hussain was killed on his way back home. He was killed when some unknown men came and opened fire on him. Moreover, Mohammad Ashraf who was known to be the chief inspector of mines in the province of Balochistan was gunned. This incident happened when he was on his way to his office.
3rd September 2010:
Around 50 people were killed in this incident of suicide bombing. Many people got injured. Afterward, the Taliban claimed that they were behind this incident.
October 2010:
Around 4 citizens of the Hazara community were abducted and killed.
November 2010:
Haji Idrees was kidnapped. He was known to be the owner of Barkat Medical store. Moreover, his bodyguard was killed.
May 2011:
In a rocket and gun attack, around 8 people were killed. This incident happened in a park. Later, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi claimed that they were behind this incident.
July 2011:
A Suzuki van was attacked in Quetta. Due to this incident, 11 people were found dead.
17th February 2013:
In Quetta, around 84 people have killed dua to a Large Blast. Later, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi claimed this incident’s responsibility.
January 2014:
Around 30 people were killed in this incident of suicide bombing. This attack was done on a bus that was coming back from Iran and was carrying pilgrims. Later it was found out that Lashkar-e-Jhangvi was behind this attack.
January 2021:
In this incident, eleven coal miners who belonged to specifically the Shia Hazara community were kidnapped at gunpoint. They were blindfolded and then slaughtered in Mach coalfield in the morning. Mach is situated in the southwestern province of Baluchistan. Afterward, hundreds of people came to raise banners to protest against these 11 citizens who belonged to the Hazara community.
It is extremely important to bring this genocide to an end. To maintain peace in Hazara, it is important to establish an independent federal commission. This federal commission is required to investigate and recommend the following criminal prosecutions. Moreover, they are also required to report all the sectarian killings that happened in the following region. It should be given access to record all these sectarian killings. Furthermore, it is important to remove any security person who was involved in attacking another person on basis of his beliefs.
References:
1. Timeline: Hazara killings in Balochistan
2. https://www.dawn.com/news/777973/timeline-hazara-killings-in-balochistan#:~:text=September%202009,dead%2C%20according%20to%20eyewitness%20account
3. “Acts of violence: Two gunned down in Quetta,” The Express Tribune, July 13, 2012, http://tribune.com.pk/story/407552/acts-of-violence-two-gunned-down-in-quetta/
4. Shahzada Zulfiqar, “Hazara Shia among two gunned down,” Pakistan Today, July 5, 2012, http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2012/07/05/national/hazara-shia-among-two-gunned-down/
5. “Hazara killing continues in Quetta Pakistan: Ali Mohammad shot dead today,” Hazara People International Network, June 1, 2012, http://www.hazarapeople.com/2012/06/01/hazara-killing-continues-in-quetta-pakistan-ali-mohammad-shot-dead-today/
6. “Hazara man among three killed,” Dawn, May 24, 2012, http://www.dawn.com/news/721130/hazara-man-among-three-killed.
7. “Firing in Quetta, Killing Two Brothers,” BBC, May 15, 2012, http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/pakistan/2012/05/120515_quetta_hazara_killing_zs.shtml