Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar on Wednesday took a suo-motu notice of the targeted killings of the Hazara community in Quetta. “Their killers are openly holding rallies,” the chief justice remarked during a hearing, noting that the Hazaras do not get admission in universities, cannot go to schools and hospitals. “Are they not citizens of Pakistan,” he observed. The chief justice stated that he will hear the case on May 11 in Quetta. The Supreme Court summoned a report on the matter from the Balochistan government, Levies, police and Interior Ministry. “Hazaras are scared and have thus not submitted a request to the apex court,” he noted further. A string of successive incidents of targeted killings spread a wave of terror among citizens of Quetta. At least six people were killed and three wounded in different incidents of targeted killings in the provincial capital over the last few days. As a result, members of the Hazara community began protesting against the continued spate of killings against the minority community.
It is good to see that the CJP has taken effective notice of the matter as Hazara community in Balochistan has been living under a constant threat of attacks, hundreds of the community members including men, women and children have been murdered in reckless sectarian attacks, targeted killings and suicide bombings over the past several years. The sectarian divide in our country has been a matter of serious concern since a long time but unfortunately this growing menace has now turned into a big threat to our internal security that needs to be addressed effectively. Given the longstanding sectarian fault lines Pakistan has been prone to religious sectarianism and violence but so far as the situation in the restive province is concerned this is not perhaps the only reason behind this bloodshed. There are several other factors involved in this horrific game. A cursory look into the incidents of sectarian-violence in the country amply demonstrates the fact that internal and external factors, either directly or indirectly, are involved in this terrific game being played to foment trouble, create instability and anarchy in the State. In Baluchistan, we see the Hazara community is not the only target of reckless violence but our security forces too have been attacked by the armed militants groups who are working on foreign agenda. So whatever is happening in the province should not be seen as a case in isolation. Foreign involvement and particularly the Indian hand in Baluchistan is no more a secret and Indian spy agencies’ involvement in the escalating sectarian strife in the province cannot be ruled out.
As far as the Hazara community’s demand for the right to life is concerned, being citizens of this country their safety, security and well being is the prime responsibility of the State and therefore there is a dire need that the government must take effective measures to protect this beleaguered community that has suffered terribly during the recent couple of years. But to ensure peace and interfaith harmony there is need to wipe out all armed militant groups and holding accountable all those who are involved in this deadly game of sectarian violence. Hope that the suo-motu action taken by the honourable CJP will go a long way to address this issue once and for all.