QUETTA: Prime Minister Imran Khan finally met with the families of the Hazara coal miners who were brutally killed in Mach area of Bolan District in Balochistan six days ago.
The meeting took place at the Sardar Bahadur Khan Women’s University after protestors ended their sit-in and buried their deceased.
The premier offered his condolences to the families of everyone who lost their lives in the tragic incident and said that he was aware of the many tragedies that the Hazara community had suffered in the past.
“I visited you when people were afraid of coming to you during the time when terrorism was on the rise in Pakistan.” the premier told the Hazara community.
“I have no doubt that this [Machh attack] was part of a larger [sectarian] game,” he added while promising that the government would go after the perpetrators “with full force”.
“I understand all of your issues; I might be the only politician who understands your 20-year-old [struggle],” the premier added.
The premier said that a special cell of security forces is being formed which will be dedicated to protect the Hazara community in Balochistan.
“These are 35-40 people who have spread terror in the country; in the past they were known as Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, and now they are a part of the extremist group Daesh,” the prime minister said.
Premier explains blackmail remarks
The prime minister also explained his blackmail remarks to the bereaved relatives of the Hazara victims. “You should understand this that it is different for a prime minister. When I was a common man I came to you,” he said.
“I conveyed the message that you bury them and I will come to share your grief immediately but when you set a condition then it becomes a precedent.” he added.
Prime Minister Imran Khan added that the entire country was watching and shared the grief of the Hazara community and assured them that the government stands beside them.
Read more: Don’t blackmail me, Imran Khan tells Hazara protestors.
Background
Eleven coal miners were shot dead and another 4 injured after being abducted by armed men in Mach area of Bolan District in Balochistan on Sunday.
Hazara protesters had been staging a sit-in at a highway near Quetta for the last six days. They had earlier refused to bury their loved ones until the prime minister visited them.
However, later talks with the government proved successful and the community called off the sit-in and buried the victims of the Mach tragedy.
In solidarity, there were several other sit-ins taking place in other cities across the country, including Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar.
Read more: ISIS takes responsibility for murder of coal miners in Mach.
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