Balochistan with 44% of the land mass and 10% of Pakistan’s population is passing through an ever-growing volatile situation, where gradual degeneration is taking place in all facets of public life. Repeated policy failures since the creation of Pakistan have created deep-seated multidimensional problems having serious security implications for the country. The reasons for the present crisis are not well known to the people of Pakistan and lack of wholesome comprehension at the national level, coupled with least resolve has compounded the problem. It is pertinent to mention that one of the grave problems is ethnic violence in Balochistan. More come it is easy to say that an ethnic-sectarian problem is putting the province and state of Pakistan into a troubling situation. In Pakistan, Shia sect represents some 20 percent of Pakistan’s overwhelmingly Muslim population, and anti-Shia violence has intensified in past decade.
Last week, shopkeepers Jaffar and Muhammad Ali from Hazara Community lost their lives in target killing in Quetta, Pakistan. It does not matter of just two killings, according to statistical data in past 5 years at least 509 members of the Hazara community have been killed and 627 injured in militant attacks in Balochistan province. The roughly half-million Hazara living in Balochistan province are helpless, because of their distinctive East Asian ethnic features as well as Shia religious affiliation. It is part of history that people from Hazara community participating in religious processions, praying in mosques, or celebrating any religious occasions have been targeted by suicide bombers and terrorists.
In result of these attacks the Hazara Democratic Party (HDP) blocked the Bacha Khan road in Quetta and marked their protest against the government. They were of the view that this government have failed this community to secure from terrorists. The angry protesters burnt tires and blocked all traffic at the western bypass. They chanted slogans against the state apparatus and law enforcement agencies in arresting terrorists who are targeting the community members. In result of this protests, Interior Minister of Pakistan Ahsan Iqbal reached Quetta to end the sit-in of Hazara Community. The dialogue between Interior Minister and Hazara Community was not fruitful as still, they are holding the protests. Whereas Ahsan Iqbal makes them believe that their concerns have been marked and will take care of it. But the community believes to arrest the terrorists and hang them in nick of time. Moreover, the Provisional government has imposed a ban on pillion riding as the law and order situation of the country is getting grimmer day by day.
Past two months are full of such attacks where the targeted communities have been targeted such as Christians and Shias, on basis of their belief system. Whereas it is the prime responsibility of the state to secure the minorities. Balochistan ethnic issue has been aggravated due to the absolute absence of good governance. Without working out a policy by federal and provincial governments for posting of competent, efficient and honest officers de-linked from political expediencies in provincial machinery, no initiative will ever succeed. There is a dire need to secure these communities in order to have vibrant province.