Hazara Shia community stages sit-in protest in Pakistan

The Hazara community has been staging a sit-in at Western Bypass of Quetta, Pakistan, for last 23 hours demanding better security measures after Hazarganji open market blast on Friday. 

The Hazara community has been staging a sit-in at Western Bypass of Quetta, Pakistan, for last 23 hours demanding better security measures after Hazarganji open market blast on Friday. 

At least 20 people were killed in the market blast believed to be targeting the Hazara community on Friday morning. 

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.

At least 20 people were killed and over 48 others were injured in a suicide attack targeting members of the Shia Hazara community in Quetta’s Hazarganji market on Friday. 

The attack claimed the lives of nine Hazara and one Frontier Corps (FC) soldier who was deputed for the community’s security, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Abdul Razzaq Cheema told reporters. The 10 others who lost their lives included shopkeepers, businessmen and citizens working or residing in the area. Four FC soldiers were among the injured.