Govt vetoed Hazaras’ demand: Army was ready for Quetta deployment
President Asif Ali Zardari and Army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. — File Photo
ISLAMABAD: The government on Tuesday refused to accept the main demand of Shia leadership and Hazara community for army deployment in Quetta although the military was ready to take on the responsibility.
“The decision for not calling in army under Section 245 of the Constitution was made by the political leadership. The armed forces are not reluctant to provide security to the Hazaras,” a senior military official told Dawn after Army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani met President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf at the Presidency to discuss the situation arising out of Saturday’s Quetta bombing.
Had the government asked for it, the official said, the army was ready to take action against the killers.
Defending the government’s decision, Law Minister Farooq H. Naek said: “The situation is not so bad that army should be deployed in the city.”
Shia leadership and Hazara community elders had presented a 23-point charter of demand after the massacre and their main plea was handover of Quetta’s security to the army.
The government’s negotiating team that travelled to Quetta for talks with the Majlis-i-Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM) and Hazara leaders, accepted 22 of the demands, but persuaded the other side to compromise on the central demand. The non-acceptance of the main demand led to confusion about ending the sit-ins, many of which continued late into the night.
Speaking about the confusion, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, who led the government delegation at the
talks, said the agreement was holding. “They have decided to bury the bodies of the blast victims on Wednesday morning. Till then protestors in Quetta will remain sitting with the bodies. The media twisted the situation and reported that the Hazaras continued their sit-in,” he said.
The government had been averse to army deployment after the Jan 10’s bombing as well. However, it had accepted the demand for imposition of governor’s rule in Balochistan. It is believed that the government’s unwillingness to army deployment has been caused by its fear of losing more space to the army on national security, which is already dominated by the armed forces.
At the Presidency meeting, Gen Kayani was informed that intelligence-driven targeted operations against those involved in the carnage would be launched by the Frontier Corps.
Personnel of the Balochistan Constabulary and the Balochistan Reserve Police will also be put at the disposal of the FC to meet manpower requirement for the operations.
The government adopted a two-pronged strategy for making the MWM and Hazara leaders budge on the demand for an army-led operation in Quetta. It launched an operation, killing the “mastermind” of the Jan 10 attack and his accomplices and arresting a former provincial minister accused of patronising sectarian elements. And it won over some of the Hazara leaders.
It was surprising that suddenly the FC received a tip-off about a Lashkar-i-Jhangvi hideout in the suburbs of Quetta and carried out an operation in which four terrorists were killed and seven, including a high value target, were arrested.
Those killed in the operation were Shah Wali, the LeJ commander and main planner of Alamdar Road attack of Jan 10, who was also involved in targeted killing of Hazara people, murders of some police officers and a judge and attacks on pilgrims’ buses in Mastung; Abdul Wahab alias Doctor, the recruiter of the shooters and head of target indication ring; Naeem Khan, a close associate of known terrorist Usman Khalid Kurd; and target killer Anwar Khan.
Security officials claimed that their action against the LeJ had foiled another major attack on Hazara people.
The government also persuaded Hazara tribe chief Sardar Saadat and Hazara Democratic Party head Abdul Khaliq Hazara to give up their demand for army action. The two leaders clearly said during the talks that they did not want army to be involved.
Asked about yielding on the core demand, acting chief of the MWM Allama Amin Shaheedi, said: “No option was left for us after the stakeholders (Hazaras) said they did not need army.”
this shows the terrorist of lashker-e-jangvi are under the protection of LEA and agencies..the same group are being used in the target killing in Karachi
I am
thank you dawn for publishing this article.
firstly the sit in DID continue well into wednesday morning and the media did not miscontrue any information in that regard.
secondly, its a shame how Allama Ameen shaheedi can say that the stakeholders did not want army…he is lying to our faces…
May all those who have sold their souls to the devil, for a few coins in this world, burn in hell forever..may they be punished in unprecedented ways in this world and the next…the world will see their downfall very soon!!!
Law Minister Farooq H. Naek said: “The situation is not so bad that army should be deployed in the city.”
Oh God! What is termed ‘Bad’ in Law books? How far does it go to consider it ‘Bad’?
After more than 200 people dead in only two incidents Mr. Law minister comes up with “The situation is not so bad that army should be deployed in the city.” Amusing isn’t it?
Really? “The situation is not that bad”? What exactly is a bad situation then? 200 people die in two months…are you waiting for another couple of hundred before in the next few months till your govt. completes its period and then you can finally admit the situation is now ‘that bad’. What a sham!
The situation is not so bad? how many more lives will it take for the Govt to consider the situation bad?
This Govt def working on some hidden agenda!
Law Minister Farooq H. Naek said: “The situation is not so bad that army should be deployed in the city.”
He still has the audacity to pass such comments. What else do you want??
how about you hand them a nuclear bomb and let them finish once and for all
Law Minister Farooq H. Naek said: “The situation is not so bad that army should be deployed in the city.”..I pray to ALLAH AL-Mighty that this person should be handed over to the people of Hazara along with his enitree family and see what they do with him. SHAME!!!! SHAMEE!!! he is not Pakistan’s Law Minister but special servant of Presidnecy!…
Law Minister Farooq H. Naek said: “The situation is not so bad that army should be deployed in the city.”
keep telling yourself that
“The government’s negotiating team that travelled to Quetta for talks with the Majlis-i-Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM) and Hazara leaders, accepted 22 of the demands”
For God sake these are not demands, this is not a pay raise neither its a labor union. They are understandably invoking their basic rights and reminding government of its foremost duty.
How do president Zardari and his administration members sleep every night? Shame on not only incompetent but also utterly shameless so called leadership. My heart goes out to families of victims.
I am surprised why did they let go the main demand of army intervention!!
“Law Minister Farooq H. Naek said: “The situation is not so bad that army should be deployed in the city.””
Shame on you Mr. Farooq! Had it been a couple of shots fired at your family you would have called the highest level of security around your home……
Hypothetical question what happens if Army fails to provide the security. Are we going to call NATO troops? We should avoid solution on ad hoc basis. There must be a permanent solution. In true civilized world where every man gives to every other every right that he claims for himself.
In response to Mr. Naek’s comment that “the situation is not so bad….”, I would like to ask him if any of his near and dear ones have ever being killed so ruthlessly. Has he been in a situation where he had to sit with the dead body of a beloved member if his family while he waited to get an answer for their death.
If the situation is not so bad, can he or any member if his party move in the city without protective services.
Or how bad does the situation have to get for this decision to be made. Is the number of deaths not enough.
You can act dumb and absolve yourself and your party. But please don’t make such cruel statements.
Faisal.
What are the parameters of a bad situation? Have a heart Farooq H. Naek.