People protest against Hazara miners killing, shout slogans

After eleven coal miners from Pakistan's Shia Hazara community were killed, people protested in large numbers and shouted slogans against the Pak govt. The rally was organised by the Jamiat Ulema-e-Asna Ashria Kargil.

Kargil: Hundreds of people participated in a protest against the killing of eleven members of Hazara Shia community in the Machh area of Balochistan. After offering namaz, people in Kargil were seen marching on the streets with black flags, placards and were shouting slogans against Pakistan government braving the cold weather against the killings of minorities in Pakistan.

At least 11 coal miners from Pakistan's Shia Hazara community were killed and four others injured on Sunday by unidentified gunmen who initially kidnapped them in the restive southwestern province of Balochistan on January 3.

The rally was organised by the Jamiat Ulema-e-Asna Ashria Kargil (AJUIAK).

Leader of AJUIA Murtaza Khalili condemned the attacks on the Shia Hazara and other religious, ethnic minority communities in Pakistan. He said that not only minorities but other minorities including Hindus, Christians, Sikhs and even Sunnis are also targeted.

Khalili also expressed solidarity with the families of the martyrs and the Hazara community.

Imam Juma Wal Jamaat Sheikh Hassan Waezi appealed to the Indian government to register a strong protest with Pakistan government against the killing of minorities in Pakistan.

According to police, the miners were on the way to work at Machh coalfield when the unidentified gunmen kidnapped them and opened fire on them after taking them to the nearby hills, the Express Tribune reported.

Six of the miners died on the spot and five who were critically wounded died on the way to a hospital. Four others were also injured.

Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan has condemned the incident and sought an inquiry report from the authorities concerned, the daily reported.

"Those who targeted these innocent coal miners do not deserve any concessions," he said.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the killing but banned Sunni extremist organisation Lashker-e-Jhangvi has targeted the minority Hazara community in Baluchistan in the past.

With PTI inputs