The systematic extermination of Hazaras (Taliban-led genocide of a Shia ethnic minority in Pakistan)

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On Saturday the 16th of February 2013, a water-tanker reportedly went through an FC Check post situated on Kirani Road Quetta, Pakistan. After nearly 600 meters, the driver took a sharp right turn and entered into a heavily populated Hazara Town and detonated the water-tanker around 5:30pm (Pakistan time). A thick, noxious cloud rose into the air with an immense deafening sound, smashing nearby windowpanes, injuring mostly women. Upon hearing the blast, ghettoized Hazaras rushed to the scene where they unearthed the four markets adjacent to Kirani road along with an English Language Centre and a private school burnt to the ground. The ferocious fires, alongside the corpses of women and children was a scene that the survivors endured with excruciating difficulty.

When the dust settled, limbs could be seen strewn across the scene. The panic and helpless hysteria of the victims was making the situation far more difficult to confront.

Referring to the horrifying scene, Nayal a local journalist termed Saturday’s terrorist attack an ongoing “systematic extermination of Hazaras” that has continued for the past 12 years in Pakistan. Initially, 84 Hazaras were reported to have been killed; but local journalists are now reporting that 27 more Hazaras have allegedly disappeared due to the explosion. He also added that 17 amongst them were students under the age of 16 who were at school when the attack took place. Reportedly, the 1000 kilograms of explosives had thoroughly levelled the four double-story markets, along with the English Language Centre and a private school. The demolished walls, windows and doors of approximately 300 shops and 30 houses further added the overall accumulated damage.

After the January 10, 2013 blast, Kirani Road was put on high security alert as it is the only road which leads to Hazara Town. Everyone, including the Hazaras would have to go through scrutiny by the FC personnel to enter Hazara Town. He raised a question asking how a water-tanker laden with 1000 kilograms of explosives went undetected by the FC check post on Kirani Road, which killed a 100 innocent Hazara Shia and injured 200, permanently disabling most of them, a mystery that needs to be resolved as quickly as possible by higher authorities.

As usual, the banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) accepted responsibility for Saturday’s deadly bomb blast in Quetta and vowed to continue its anti-Shia operations despite the governor’s rule or even if the military takes control of Balochistan. Earlier, on the 11th of January 2013, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, in its press statement warned the Hazaras of more attacks saying: “God willing now the LeJ will conduct similar attacks in 2013. The enemies [Hazaras] will not find ways to leave Balochistan [alive]”.

Law enforcement agencies despite knowing the threat posed by LeJ to the lives of Hazaras, did not make special security arrangements to avoid the many fatalities and innumerable injuries and left the terrorists to exercise full impunity and commit this massacre.

It is saddening to say that the Hazaras, after every blast, rush to the killing site, collect their dead bodies, most of the time in pieces, wash them carefully, put them in a clean shroud, bring their dead to the road and start a peaceful protest for justice, to let the civilized world hear of the horrible life they have faced for the last 12 years. While on the other hand, world leaders, including Ban Ki-moon despite being aware of the stark situation had clichéd condemnations read out by their spokespeople.

Very few media representatives take the issue seriously, the majority of the print and electronic media despite knowing about the depth of the issue, don’t seem ready to bring all those involved in the terrorist activities to light and anchors seem to be milking the strife of the nation simply to have something to discuss on the television. Except for a few members of the civil society who genuinely feel responsible and take to the streets, holding up placards, depicting demands and slogans in favour of the victims, they make speeches, chant slogans and express their genuine solidarity with the victims; however the majority don’t bother. In the meantime, political parties stick to their condemnation statements to express their solidarity with the victims’ families just to maintain their presence on the media. Human rights organisations’ strong words to the incumbent government seem genuinely to express their concern but what can they do except issue statements. Social media networks such as Facebook, YouTube and Twitter fill up with the shocking news and videos to make the elite class and world leaders know about the persecutions of the Hazaras in Pakistan but these measures seem impotent and inefficient towards a pragmatic solution.

After 12 years, over 1100 Hazaras have been brutally killed and over 3500 injured. Just within the last 40 days, over 200 Hazaras have been killed and over 300 injured. Despite writing, reading and watching very closely their persecution in Pakistan, I’m not pessimist but just curious as to how long the international community will keep passively watching the Hazaras collect their dead bodies.

http://dawn.com/2013/02/21/the-systematic-extermination-of-hazaras/

Hazara people

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Australia steps up.

2,500 Hazara families offered asylum

ISLAMABAD: The Australian government has offered asylum to over 2,500 Hazara families of Balochistan and urged the United Nations refugee agency in Pakistan to facilitate migration of the community facing sectarian violence, Australian embassy sources said.

Jim O’Callaghan, assistant secretary of the humanitarian branch of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Australia, had held a meeting with UNHCR officials last week and discussed the asylum offer with them, First Secretary Australian High Commission Sherief Andrawos told Dawn on Wednesday.

The UNHCR was informed that Australia was willing to accommodate 2,500 families or 7,000 individuals of the Hazara community, keeping in view attacks on them.

[sandinista! 1,816]

Thank you Australia.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Thank you Australia.

Indeed.

[^_^ 5,021]

Indeed.

I believe Boo Yah would be pleased today, were he still with us

Edited February 22, 2013 by ^_^

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

[quote name=' timestamp='1361501799' post='5996046]I believe Boo Yah would be pleased today, were he still with us

This type of thing says a lot about a nation. Humanity first.

[Ban Hammer 13,570]

[quote name=' timestamp='1361501799' post='5996046]

I believe Boo Yah would be pleased today, were he still with us

booyah was right - australia is great!

[sandinista! 1,816]

This type of thing says a lot about a nation. Humanity first.

Refuge not drones?

[ready4ONE 5,400]

Refuge not drones?

Why not both?

[sandinista! 1,816]

I'm sorry not enough Muslims are dying here for your liking Ready.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

I'm sorry you think I am happy anyone's dying, but in the real world sometimes bad guys should die. I realize that definitions of the bad guys are generally a function of which side you're on.

There are some pretty bad Muslims out there and they are killing other Muslims. No small number of those Muslims getting killed deserve help and or assylum. I don't pity the bad who earn a drone strike. But perhaps you have failed to notice?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Refuge not drones?

Without passing any judgement on deploying drones (separate discussion entirely), Australia is NOT offering refuge to those that are targeted by drones. Australia is instead offering refuge to people that are the target of those targeted by drones.

[^_^ 5,021]

Without passing any judgement on deploying drones (separate discussion entirely), Australia is NOT offering refuge to those that are targeted by drones. Australia is instead offering refuge to people that are the target of those targeted by drones.

Correct.

[sandinista! 1,816]

Who cares what the purported targets of drones are said to be, when 4 year olds keep getting blown to bits regardless of never being the damn target? Why would it be any different with Hazara Shias? A key piece in getting approval for this ####### has been citing the horrid oppression inflicted on ordinary people by murderous, extremist thugs. But yet ordinary people keep getting killed by the same people who keep saying they're doing them a favor. Dead 4 year olds are dead 4 year olds, regardless of being officially not a target. That's true of kids in AfPak, true of kids in America, and true of kids anywhere else in the world. Australia's assistance carries no such risk. We can't say the same.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

I believe the OP was quite clear that many children are being blown to bits by terrorists. Focus! Yes drone strikes that kill children and other innocent people are a tragedy but you're trying to make a point not really related to the topic at hand.

Edited February 23, 2013 by ready4ONE