why is it that suddenly there are barrage of attacks on hazara community in recent years, something is fishy?

Pakistan is a country where murderers roam free. Known corrupt leaders rule the country and support FEUDOCRACY. Honest leaders are held in prison on drummed up charges. Educated and capable persons take the first opportunity to migrate to some other country and those who control the country, encourage illiteracy.

This is a wonderfully presented narrative of a quite sad situation! I hope more like these help raise the voice of the hazaras!

@Naseer.....Sadly, I concur with you 100%. Why can't we just live peacefully, killing other people based on their faith, creed and color will destroy us all.

If religion is this , ban it shun it , its not worth so much human suffering

Using "Hazards" as a pun in the headline was a bit unfortunate choice, considering the serious tone in the body of the article. Being Hazara one is not only persecuted as Shia Muslim but also subject to racial bigotry and violence.

Once in a while we read similar type of tragic cases from almost every country in the world, but in Pakistan this has become a matter of routine. It hurts a lot, but there is nothing an ordinary person can do except feeling helpless. We are among the most unfortunate people as we are ruled by evil and ignorat people called politicians, their survival is dependent on these violent episodes, they are deaf, dumb, and blind.But there is one thing we all can do, and that is, that all those who read these type of news should make a promise to themselves that they will never approve of any discrmination, and on individual basis will try to bring awareness in people. Today we need self awareness, as a lot has been said and done before but to no avail, because there was never any true person who really wanted to curb the violence and terrorism.I don't have any trust with the authorities, their intentions are fake. But believe me even a minute gesture of any good act is worth a lot, it will make a difference, so today promise yourself to start this mission. ---A thousand miles journey begins with the first step.

Well saying I really appreciate your report to raise the voice of victims of hazaras.

I really appreciate your writes for raising the voice of voiceless hazara.

The thing is, what dawn and other media outlets refuse to point out, is that Hazaras are not targeted due to Ethnicity, creed or cast but secretarial beliefs. They are Shias and for that they pay in blood, just like rest on Shias in Pakistan.

What a shame people cannot tolerate different people or different beliefs. Life lies in diversity, not in monotony. Diversity is the one true thing we all have in common. Celebrate it not destroy it.

A very good article. I know many hazaras who are living in constant fear, those who have left Quetta for Australia have also experienced bad moments. Many of them have lost their lives on the way while some disappeared in the sea, others are in detention centers.

The People Smugglers who are making Millions of dollars are the ones responsible for carrying out the bombings in Quetta! Pakistani government knows this but they won't do anything about it

This article contradicts itself in many places: "For almost all of them, the only means to escape from Pakistan are illegal." "he travelled from Pakistan to Malaysia on a valid visa" Why are they illegal when they leave Pakistan's borders when they have a valid visa?

Just curious, wouldn't it be just easy to go across the border to Iran? Doesn't Iran recognize the plight of shias?

Dear @REZA, Leaving a country on a valid visa doesn't necessary mean it is perfectly legal especially provided leaving from Pakistan. Hazaras face severe obstacles before leaving. Australian Govt and FIA jointly work to stop Hazaras leaving from Pakistani airports (http://hazaraasylumseekers.wordpress.com/2012/12/12/australias-deadly-game/). Any Hazara with their distinct facial feature and address of Quetta on their passports is highly unlikely to be allowed to go and board a plane in any Pakistani airport. Most of them have to pay to smugglers/agents to obtain fake passports and then bribe Travel Agencies and Embassy officials to get a 'valid' visa and at last, they will have to bribe FIA officials at all international airports in order to leave the country.

@sapeace Religion teaches us tolerance, if some thing is happening like this. this should not be related to religion. To protect minority is very important in Islam for example, 10 million christian are living in Arab countries from centuries. But in Spain Muslims are where, who ruled over there approx one millennium.

@komal s : A very insensitive comment about the plight of innocent victims. I hope your comment was out of ignorance and not of malicious intent. Please be aware it is extremely dangerous to travel to Iran from Quetta. The travelers are routinely targeted and killed.

@Arif : So why don't they go back to their country of nationality - Afghanistan - and get passports from there? The FIA is working to ensure that non-Pakistanis do not get Pakistani passports which is the right thing to do. For once

@REZA : Because they are not Pakistanis.

@Aamir : This killing is senseless but since it is happening, what these people can do is to join a political party. The MQM represents a people who have been persecuted for years and have fought back every time. The Hazaras can learn what it takes to have a Muslim homeland and how dangerous even that can be. They will be safer or at least as unsafe as everyone else, if they join a political party and become part of a greater whole.

@arif "Hazara with their distinct facial feature and address of Quetta on their passports is highly unlikely to be allowed to go and board a plane in any Pakistani airport". What lies and rubbish! Hazaras born in Quetta are PAKISTANI citizens and can easily get a Pakistani Passport to fly in and out of Pakistan, or wherever they want to go, including Malaysia! It's only when they come by boat to Australia that they throw away their passport, change their name and say they are from Afghanistan.

Very one sided piece of journalism. You should call it "The Sound of One Hand Clapping". No mention of the Iranian supported HDP and Wahdat factions in Quetta who are fuelling sectarian violence.