Several Hazara Coal Miners Killed in Balochistan

On Sunday, 3rd January, armed militants kidnapped a group of Hazara miners and took them to a nearby mountain to kill them in cold blood.

According to the reports, at least 11 coal miners that belonged to the Hazara sect were abducted and taken to the Mach area of Balochistan and killed in cold blood.

Police authorities stated that the miners were on their way to work when armed militants kidnapped them and took them to the nearby mountains. Moazzam Ali Jatoi, an official with the Levies Force, said six of the miners were dead on the spot, and five who were critically wounded died on the way to a hospital. Jatoi further clarified that the reason these miners were killed was that they identified as Shia and belonged to the Hazara community.

Upon further investigation, the militant group, Islamic State (IS) took responsibility for the attack. However, the claim is yet to be verified. The Hazara group is frequently targetted and killed by militant groups because of the sectarian rivalry that stems from Pakistan- the killing of Hazara miners is just a recent example of this rivalry.

Following the killing of the Hazara miners, members of the Hazara community in Quetta blocked the Western Bypass and set fire to tires to protest against the killings. Moreover, Prime Minister Imran Khan condemned the miners’ killing, terming it “yet another cowardly inhumane act of terrorism”.

“Have asked the FC to use all resources to apprehend these killers & bring them to justice. The families of the victims will not be left abandoned by the govt,” he tweeted after hearing about the killing of the Hazara miners.

Not only Imran Khan but Minister for Interior, Sheikh Rasheed also tweeted of the condemnable act asking the Balochistan inspector general to submit a report on the killing of the Hazara miners. “Terrorists will not succeed in their nefarious objectives. Elements involved in the incident are not deserving of any laxity,” he said.

Several other officials also came forward to express their sorrow and condemn the incident of terrorism against the Hazara community.

The killing of the Hazara miners in Balochistan is nothing but inhumane, such miners usually travel from Quetta to their workplace to make a living. Discriminating against workers based solely on their sects is utterly stupid and must be handled immediately. Mr. Yousaf­zai says. “The militants tied their hands on their backs, and slaughtered them one by one.”


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