HYDERABAD: Activists of Shia Ulema Council, Majlis-i-Wahdatul Muslimeen and other Shia organisations took out rallies and staged sit-ins in several Sindh towns on Wednesday in protest against the recent massacre of 11 coal miners of Hazara community in Mach, Balochistan.

Several workers of various Shia organisations held a sit-in outside Hyderabad Press Club to condemn terrorist attack on Hazara community.

MWM’s Gul Hassan Murtazavi and Shia Ulema Council (SUC) leader Mohammad Ali Jarwar and others who led the protest demanded the federal government must fulfil all the demands raised by heirs of the victims.

They said that all killers must be brought to justice and hanged in public so that no one dared repeat such crime in future. If the government failed to meet demands of the victim’s heirs, Hyderabad’s Shia community would stage a sit-in on Hyderabad bypass soon, they warned.

Local leaders of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and Jamaat-i-Islami also joined the protest and expressed solidarity with the victims.

MIRPURKHAS: Scores of SUC workers took out a rally from Makhan Shah shrine to State Life roundabout to protest against massacre of 11 miners.

The protesters’ leaders condemned the terrorist incident and appealed to Pak Army and Prime Minister Imran Khan to ensure arrest of the culprits involved in the brutal killing of poor miners. They warned that their sit-in would continue till the terrorists were arrested.

SUKKUR: Activists of SUC, MWM, Shia Action Committee and ISO staged a sit-in at DC Chowk in Jacobabad to protest against the Mach terrorist incident.

Local leaders of Shia organisations said that it was sad that Shia community had been facing terrorism for a long time but the government had failed to control it.

They demanded arrest of all terrorists involved in the incident and warned of widening their protest if the government failed to protect their lives.

SHIKARPUR: MWM activists took out a rally and staged a sit-in at Lakhi Gate Clock Tower Chowk in protest against the Mach incident.

A large number of workers of Imamia Students Organisation, Asgharia Organisation, Shuhada Committee, Payam-i-Wilayat, SUC and others participated in the protest, raising slogans for justice for Mach victims.

The protesters condemned massacre of innocent coal miners who were working to earn livelihood for their families.

They demanded the government stop killing of innocent people and provide justice to heirs of the victims who were still protesting for justice while keeping the dead bodies of their loved ones in freezing cold in Quetta.

NAWABSHAH: Activists of MWM staged a demonstration and sit-in outside local press club in protest against the killing of coal miners of Hazara community.

The protesters led by Maulana Sajjad Mohsini, Allama Mukhtiar Imami, Syed Zafar Shah and others condemned the brutal killing of Hazara labourers and said that Balochistan government was responsible for the incident.

Similar incidents had taken place in the past as well but the government had completely failed to maintain law and order and provide safety and security to people, they said.

NAUSHAHRO FEROZE: Activists of Shia organisations staged a sit-in and observed a token hunger strike outside press clubs in Moro and Muhabat Dero to protest against the Mach tragedy.

The protesters condemned the killing of Hazara community people and termed it brazen injustice.

They said that they had become tired of collecting bodies of their loved ones and community fellows and burying them and now they would not keep silent.

They demanded immediate arrest of the terrorists and awarding them exemplary punishment. If the government failed the protest would be spread across the country, they said.

Several local politicians, social workers and writers also joined the protest and expressed sympathy with Hazara mourners.

Published in Dawn, January 7th, 2021