-Photo by Saleem Javed

QUETTA: Hazara Democratic Party’s president Abdul Khaliq Hazara went on hunger strike for three days on Saturday in protest against the killing of members of the community in Thursday’s bomb blasts on Alamdar Road.

Hundreds of workers of the party set up a hunger strike camp in front of the offices of the Balochistan police chief.

Earlier, leaders and workers of the HDP marched on various roads and chanted slogans against the government and police.

Addressing the protesters, Mr Khaliq Hazara criticised the provincial government, police, Frontier Corps and intelligence agencies for what he termed their inaction against terrorists involved in the blasts in which more than 100 people were killed and 165 injured. He said about 900 people of the Hazara community had been killed and thousands injured in sectarian attacks in the city over the past four years.

He said the government and law-enforcement agencies were least interested in nabbing the culprits or curbing terrorism as not a single killer had been arrested.

The HDP leader said the inaction on the part of the government and police had encouraged terrorists to attack innocent people at will.

He appealed to political groups and human rights organisations to take notice of ‘genocide’ of the Hazaras and devise a joint line of action against terrorism and extremism.

Delegations of several parties and organisations visited the camp and expressed solidarity with the HDP.

Activists of the Hazara Women’s Foundation also held a demonstration along with children outside the press club. The protesters raised slogans against the government and condemned the killing of the Hazaras.

Editorial

Ominous demands
Updated 18 May, 2024

Ominous demands

The federal government needs to boost its revenues to reduce future borrowing and pay back its existing debt.
Property leaks
18 May, 2024

Property leaks

THE leaked Dubai property data reported on by media organisations around the world earlier this week seems to have...
Heat warnings
18 May, 2024

Heat warnings

STARTING next week, the country must brace for brutal heatwaves. The NDMA warns of severe conditions with...
Dangerous law
Updated 17 May, 2024

Dangerous law

It must remember that the same law can be weaponised against it one day, just as Peca was when the PTI took power.
Uncalled for pressure
17 May, 2024

Uncalled for pressure

THE recent press conferences by Senators Faisal Vawda and Talal Chaudhry, where they demanded evidence from judges...
KP tussle
17 May, 2024

KP tussle

THE growing war of words between KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Governor Faisal Karim Kundi is affecting...