QUETTA, Jan 26: The Hazara Democratic Party (HDP) urged the government on Thursday to take action against the elements involved in the killing of the people of Hazara community.

Addressing a meeting organised to mark the third death anniversary of HDP president Hussain Ali Yousufi, they appealed to the international community to raise its voice against the targeted killing of the Hazaras.

Khaliq Hazara, Ahmed Ali Kohzad, Mirza Hussain Hazara, Reza Wakil and Asmat Naiz paid homage to the late leader for his struggle for the rights of Hazaras and other communities. They said Mr Yousufi was a moderate, progressive and nationalist who believed in co-existence.

They said extremists and terrorists were targeting the Hazaras with impunity and the government had failed to arrest the killers.

They expressed concern over the killing of missing and kidnapped people in the province and throwing of their bodies.

They said it was the government’s responsibility to trace those behind these cruel acts.

They said the Hazara Democratic Party  was ready to launch a struggle in collaboration with other communities and democratic forces against the anti-people forces to protect the lives of innocent persons.

PA backs Zardari, Gilani

Meanwhile, the Balochistan Assembly passed a resolution on Thursday in favour of President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Reza Gilani, praising their efforts for continuation of democratic process in the country.

The resolution called upon politicians to cooperate with each other for the stability of democratic system.

“The Balochistan Assembly reposes its trust in the leadership of President Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani and fully support their efforts being put to strengthen democracy,” the resolution said.

Speaker Aslam Bhootani chaired the session.

Minister for Communications Ali Madad Jattak tabled the resolution and commended the efforts of the president and the prime minister for strengthening the democratic system.

The resolution said: “The assembly reaffirms that Pakistan’s future and welfare of people and democratic institutions lies with democracy and the strengthening of federation and empowerment of people was possible through constitutional government”.

Ainuddin Shams, Shah Nawaz Marri, Ismail Gujar, Nasreen Khetran, Ghulam Jan, Jaffar Mandokhel, Parveen Magsi and Abdul Khaliq Bashardost said that democratic rule was restored owing to sacrifices rendered by people.

They said that democracy needed strong institutions for protecting the rights of people.

The legislators said that intransigent attitude in politics always harmed the democratic process.

They said the elected government should be allowed to complete its tenure in accordance with the Constitution.

All institutions should work within the parameters of the Constitution and must not interfere in each other’s affairs because unnecessary interference would destabilise the democratic system, they observed.

The speaker admitted an adjournment motion tabled by Jaffar Khan Mandokhel for general debate on Saturday.

The motion was about the poor performance of Sui Southern Gas Company, observing gas loadshedding and low gas pressure for consumers in Quetta in the winter season.

The speaker asked the management of a private TV channel to restore the services of its 10 terminated employees because the province was facing a serious unemployment problem.

The chair requested the management to review the decision as the issue was raised on points of order by two ministers.

Earlier, the journalists on a call given by the Balochistan Union of Journalists staged a walkout from the press gallery in protest against the dismissal of their colleagues and held a demonstration outside the assembly.

The protestors returned to the gallery following an assurance by two ministers to raise the issue in the house.

Activists of the Hazara Democratic Party also staged a demonstration outside the assembly in protest against the target killing of three people in Quetta on Wednesday night.

Later, they dispersed peacefully following an assurance by two ministers that they would convey their sentiments to members.

The house offered Fateha for Pir Pagara.