LAHORE, Feb 20: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has called upon President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Pervez Ashraf to take personal initiatives for guaranteeing security of life to the Hazara Shias.

While requesting President Zardari to visit Quetta, HRCP Chairperson Zohra Yusuf said: “Within seven weeks of this year, two massacres of the (Hazara Shia) community have already taken place in Quetta, claiming the lives of over 200 people, on top of hundreds of Hazaras killed in the last few years. The matter has become so grave that it has to be taken up at the highest level.

“In view of the grave situation, we suggest that you visit Quetta in the next few days -- regardless of the outcome of talks with members of the targeted community who have been staging sit-ins (dharnas) to protest the killings -- because in our opinion the elements responsible for the killing of Hazara Shias are not amenable to authorities subservient to you.

They may, however, be amenable to your direct initiative. Such a visit would also reassure the long-suffering Hazaras of your government’s commitment to protect them.”

In its letter to the prime minister, HRCP has said: “We believe that it is vitally important that this grave situation continues to be taken up at the highest level.

After bombings in Quetta last month in which 115 Hazaras had been killed you had gone to Quetta and had promised to resolve the issue. Whatever measures you had ordered have apparently not succeeded in safeguarding the lives of the Hazaras.

We call upon you to demand explanation from the responsible officials on why the Hazaras could not be saved from this latest tragedy and why the instructions you had given them have not yielded results.”