Women and children are among the protestors staging sit-in since shortly after the blast. The protestors are demanding an effective security plan from the government to implement for the protection of the Hazara community.
20 people were killed and 48 injured after an Improvised Explosive Device was detonated in a vegetable market frequented by Hazaras in Quetta’s Hazarganji area.
The authorities have confirmed that the attack was specifically aimed at targeting the ethnic minority group.
Embassy of Iran in Pakistan also strongly condemned the terrorist attack. The embassy in a statement said our thoughts are with the victims and we pray the Almighty for early recovery of the injured.
The Hazara community has been disproportionately targeted by sectarian violence as they are easily identifiable due to their distinctive physical appearance.
A report released by the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) last year stated that 509 members of Hazara community were killed and 627 injured in various incidents of terrorism in Quetta from January 2012 to Dec 2017.
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Publish Date: 13 April 2019 - 14:03
Islamabad, April 13, IRNA -- Pakistani Hazara Shias have been staging a sit-in protest in south western city of Quetta demanding better security measures after terrorist attack against the community on Friday, local media reported.