Our Correspondent
Quetta
Prime Minister Imran Khan reached Quetta on Saturday where he met with the families of the slain coal miners and members of the Hazara community.
His visit came hours after the miners were laid to rest at the city’s Hazara Town cemetery in what was the culmination of a week-long protest during which the Hazara community and families of the labourers had refused to move ahead with the burials unless visited by the PM himself.
Speaking to digital media representatives, “Some terror elements have joined hands with Daesh and they are supported by India for promoting terrorism in Balochistan,” he said adding that the cabinet was apprised of attempts being made to fuel sectarian rifts in the country in March.
He said that India has made attempts to fuel sectarian tensions in the country and Maulana Adil’s assassination was one such bid to fuel the rifts, however, it was tackled in the best possible way by the security institutions.
“Our forces have foiled many attempts from terrorists and arrested several such elements before the execution of their nefarious designs,” Imran Khan said.
“I aim to end the Shia-Sunni discord throughout the world… look how our government is trying to thaw tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran,” he said.
The premier said that the intelligence agencies had told him that India wanted to stir sectarian violence in Pakistan and it would target Shia and Sunni scholars. “The chieftain system in the province has also a role in the destruction of Balochistan,” the prime minister said while also blaming the PPP for neglecting it during its tenure. “The development funds were previously funneled through chieftains of the province, which made them richer while the masses remained poor,” Imran Khan said. He lauded Jam Kamal and said that he was performing well for the betterment of the province.
Prime Minister Imran Khan later speaking to the heirs of the victims in a separate meeting said that they were establishing a security group tasked with providing security to the Hazara victims.
“I am thankful to the families of the victims for burying the coal miners on my request,” he said adding that he remained in touch with the security institutions, reviewing the situation.
According to Agha Raza, spokesman for the Shuhada Action Committee representing the Hazara community, the prime minister reassured the community that there will be swift implementation of the demands they had put forth.
Raza said each victim’s family had been paid Rs2.5 million by the government as compensation, while the prime minister reiterated that the Hazara community will not face similar incidents in the future. Raza said the PM’s suggestion that the Hazara community was “blackmailing” him was also brought up in the meeting, saying that participants “registered their protest” over the PM’s words but the PM “clarified” that his words were directed towards the PDM
(opposition alliance).
Shortly after arriving in Quetta, the premier met with the provincial chief minister and governor. Commander Southern Command Lt. General Sarfraz Ali was also present during the meeting. He also chaired a meeting in which the aftermath of the Machh incident and the province’s law and order situation were reviewed.
The Hazara protesters had agreed to bury the dead late on Friday night after talks between the protesters and government succeeded in ending a sit-in in Quetta; the community had demanded that the premier visit the bereaved and order a judicial probe into the incident.
Prime Minister Imran Khan arrived at Sardar Bahadur Khan Women University to meet families of coal miners who were shot dead by terrorists in on last Sunday (January 3).
The Prime Minister said that the government would take all possible steps to ensure the safety and security of the Hazara community in Balochistan.
PM Imran Khan also met Governor and Chief Minister Balochistan and chaired a meeting at CM Secretariat to review law and order situation of the province.
He said most of the slain miners were the sole breadwinners of their households and assured them that the government would fully compensate their families.
Earlier on Friday night, the families and relatives of the martyred coal miners called off their sit- in protest and agreed to bury their loved ones after successful negotiations with the government delegation led by Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal. Qasim Suri, Ali Haider Zaidi and Zulfi Bukhari were other members of the Government committee.
The funeral prayers of the coalminers were originally planned to be offered at Imambargah Wali-ul-Asr but the venue for funerals was shifted to the Hazara Town graveyard after a huge crowd turned up to attend the funerals.
Ali Haider Zaidi had announced the decisions taken at the meeting in which all demands of the Hazara community were met and said the incident was not only tragic for one community but in fact shocked the entire nation, regardless of their sect and religion.
Ali Zaidi said officials responsible for the security lapse have already been suspended, and a Joint Investigation Team formed to probe the incident. The funeral prayers were led by Allama Raja Nasir Abbas in Quetta’s Hazara Town with close to 5,000 people attending including the relatives and friends of the deceased, locals and residents of the area.
Federal Maritime Minister Ali Zaidi, Special Assistant to the PM Zulfi Bukhari, National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri, Provincial Home Minister Mir Zia Langove and other provincial ministers and civil society leaders were also present on the occasion.
The funeral prayers of the coalminers were originally planned to be offered at Imambargah Wali-ul-Asr but the venue for funerals was shifted to the Hazara Town graveyard after a huge crowd turned up to attend the funerals.
