Daily Times

The Hazara people of Quetta have buried those killed in a suicide blast on Friday in the Hazarganji fruit and vegetable market. Relatives and friends visited the grieving families in droves to offer their condolnces after the burials. The community has been at the receiving end of a spate of attacks for well over a decade apparently on account of their sectarian identity.

A group of bereaved families and those visiting them to offer condolences remain on a public road for the second day to protest the terrorist attack. Heavy rain in the city and threats from outlawed militants have been unable to persuade them to wind up their campaign.

It is not for the first time that they have taken to the street following a massacre. In February 2013, they had sat there for four days along with 90 coffins, invoking their constitutional right to life and demanding protection. The Raisani government was a casualty of the incidents. This, however, did not end the mass killings. Senoior civil servants and security forces officers have once again expressed solidarity with the families of the victims and vowed to fight terrorism.

One recalls that following the Christchurch mosque attack, New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Arden led her nation from the front. She reached out to the bereaved and it was obvious that it was a personal loss to her. She also announced measures the government would take to integrate Muslim communities in the society’s mainstream and to isolate the racists.

Taking a leaf from Prime Minster Arden’s book, Prime Minister Imran Khan and Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa should reach out to the Hazaras. There should also be some visible action to ensure their security and for eradication of militant groups.

A couple of days ago, Prime Minister Khan was seen meeting the families of those killed in security forces’ shooting at the Prime Minister’s Office. Many found the images in bad taste.

Government leaders in both Quetta and Islamabad have come up with renewed assurances of implementing the National Action Plan in letter and spirit. Predictably perhaps, the protesters have ignored their words. Unfortunately, the NAP implementation rhetoric raises more questions than it answers. The government must take terrorism head-on and make it a thing of the past. *