[View the story "Searching for protection" on Storify ]Searching for protection Pakistan's Shia minority continues to face violence in Balochistan province. Storified by The Stream · Fri, Mar 01 2013 14:39:10
On January 10, 2013 eighty-seven people from the Hazara community in the city of Quetta, the capital of Pakistan's Balochistan province, were
killed in a coordinated attack. Shortly thereafter, the group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) claimed responsibility.
"500,000-strong Shia Hazara community,Quetta routinely hunted by extremist groups bec ethnically distinct features make them easy target"Mona Eltahawy
The massacre in Quetta is deplorable and most shameful.Ahsan Iqbal
Temperature in Quetta is below ZERO so is the performance of the Government. ShameFaisal Javed Khan
This was not the first time the Hazara community has been subjected to violence. According to the
Human Rights Watch , there were 125 people killed in Balochistan last year, "most of them from the Hazara community". Below is a Google Map provided by
Hazara.net that shows the targeted killings of Hazaras in Pakistan prior to December 5, 2012:
Attacks_Pre12-12_Hazara.netAJstream
After the January 10 explosions, solidarity demonstrations took place in cities around the globe. The video below shows one such demonstration in Karachi, the largest city in Pakistan.
#ShiaGenocide Solidarity Sit-In at Numaish, KarachiSabeen Mahmud
In Australia - where a large Hazara community resides - a vigil was held for those killed in the attack:
Vigil for Quetta, 15th Jan 2013leftandcorrect
The Hazara community in Quetta staged their own protests and initially refused to bury the dead until the government took steps to punish those behind the attacks.
Al Jazeera English covered the story:
Pakistan Shias bury bombing victims in QuettaAlJazeeraEnglish
A little more than one month after these protests, another attack occurred inside of Quetta. At least 79 people were
reported killed . Once again, LeJ claimed responsibility for the attack. The second attack pushed the Hazara community to question the lack of protection from the Pakistani government.
twitpic.com
I cannot trust token statements by the government. Nothing is going to happen. Just words. No actions. #Quetta #Shia #HazaraShiraz Hassan
Quetta carnage is neither a mud-slinging match nor a point-scoring game. It's better we confront the Government on Security. Time to unite!!Tariq Vaid
The day after the explosion, an estimated 15,000 people took the streets, demanding that the army step in and take action against LeJ.
BANARAS KHAN-AFP10AJstream
Quetta Hazara Town main dharnaU-UnGoOOl2BSCBiDep2TWQ
Only the army can protect this nation. #TuQ #Quetta #PakistanRukhsaar Bibi
According to some online conversations however, the military's relationship with Pakistani civilians in Quetta has been a subject of controversy:
This picture shows that Pakistan Army (FC) is complicit in current Shia massacre in Quetta. http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=517133238338780&set=a.237179356334171.75866.236915603027213&type=1&theater #ShiaGenocideNishapuri FC
facebook.com
The only conspiracy in #pakistan is that the Army is unwilling to provide security to #Hazara #Shia in #Quetta (a city of only 2.5mn)!Haider Changezi
According to
The Atlantic , as of February 28, the military's stance is that it would be "undemocratic to act without orders from the civilian government".
When speaking to local Pakistani media shortly after the protests, the spokesman of the LeJ, Abu Bakar Siddiq, reiterated his group's wish to harm Shias:
We do not fear the governor rule or the military regime. We love to embrace martyrdom. Inshallah [god willing] we will attack the Shias inside their homes on Alamdar Road, Marri Abad Road and Hazara Town. We urge all the Sunnis to support us. They should attach bombs to their bodies against the Shias and ‘support’ the LeJ.thebalochhal.com
In an
open letter that circulated a year and a half ago, the LeJ declared war on Pakistan's Shia community:
All Shi'ites are worthy of killing. We will rid Pakistan of unclean people. Pakistan means land of the pure and the Shi'ites have no right to live in this country. We have the edict and signatures of revered scholars, declaring Shi'ites infidels. Just as our fighters have waged a successful jihad against the Shi'ite Hazaras in Afghanistan, our mission in Pakistan is the abolition of this impure sect and its followers from every city, every village and every nook and corner of Pakistan.atimes.com
Shortly after the February 18 protests, Pakistani police
arrested the leader of LeJ, Malik Ishaq.
REUTERS/Mian KhursheedAJstream
#LeJ leader Malik Ishaq met district police chief for hour, called media to his home & addressed them before his "arrest" in Rahimyar Khan.Rezaul Hasan Laskar
Punjab Police takes Malik Ishaq, it's iconic ally, into protective custody. Will his 'stipend' also be restored?Abbas Nasir
Ok So Malik Ishaq again arrested under MPO for a month . Every apex court has let him free due to lack of evidence , isn't that a shame .Mir Qais Khan Jamali
The Interior Ministry discussed
adding Malik Ishaq's name to Pakistan's Exit Control List (ECL) which controls who is able to leave the country. This decision was met with some sarcasm by some netizens.
What is the purpose of putting name of Malik Ishaq in ECL, why would he leave a country where he is free to kill and incite killings.Sohaib Ahmed
Mark my words, as soon as the dust settles, Malik Ishaq of #LEJ would be off the hook and let go scott free by #PMLNawaz Punjab govt.Shafait Ali Sheikh
In a report submitted to Pakistan's Supreme Court, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)
claimed that "it had forewarned of the carnage" of the February 16 attacks. The Supreme Court, however, continued to
express dissatisfaction. Hearings are adjourned until March 6.
Pakistan's Supreme Court "rejects" ISI report on Quetta bombing, calling for specific queries to be answered. http://dawn.com/2013/02/20/hazara-killings-sc-dissatisfied-over-isi-report/Asad Hashim
Recently, citing a failure for their community to be protected, Hazara youth
have taken up arms .
Soulless attitude from Govt has forced #Hazara community to take up arms for their own protection. Shame on you Govt & Security forces.Aneeq Ahmad
This is the state of Pakistan. The Hazara minority has to take up arms to protect their own.Saif Ali
Hazara not only have the right, but also the obligation and duty to take up arms for their protection #ActionAgainstLeJM Adil
