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Around noon, while the procession was passing through Liaqat That Fateful Day...Bazaar, in Quetta, two persons started indiscriminately firing Forty-something Nasir Ali, belonging to the Hazara Shia bullets on the procession through the first floor of a hotel community was among the procession that was peacefully window. The attack was so sudden and intense that even before marching on its pre-specified route on March 2, 2004. Little did the law enforcement agencies could pull themselves together, he know that he would never go back home alive; that the place was strewn with scores of dead bodies, blood and participating in the procession will cost him his life; that this body parts. In the commotion that ensued, many injured lay mourner's family members were to soon become mourners moaning on the road. themselves, mourning his death!

In the mayhem following the terror attack, while the dead and March 2, 2004 also happened to be the tenth day of Muharram, the wounded were being shifted to the hospital, another spate the Muslim holy month. Also known as Ashura, the day is of terror was slowly unfolding. The survivors turned into a furious observed every year to commemorate the martyrdom of mob. As if on cue, petrol cans were brought and shops in the Prophet Muhammad's grandson Hussain in the battlefield of area belonging to those other than Shia, were set on fire. In Karbala, in present day Iraq, in 680 A.D. On this day the Shia retaliation, shops and a nearby cinema in the area, being Muslims take out a peaceful procession, comprising primarily of properties of Shia community, were burnt to ashes. men, who mourn the death of Hussain, his family and his

followers. A Family Suffers

“Appropriate security measures are taken by administration on “Nasir Ali was my maternal uncle who was among the martyrs such occasions. The entire specified route of procession is sealed that day,” recalled Kumail Asghar, 23. “He left the house early by the Law Enforcement Agencies (LEA), twelve hours ahead of that morning after taking a cup of tea and said he would return the scheduled time table of the event, against all sorts of traffic late that night. But instead the family received news of his (vehicular or pedestrian) except the officials on duty. Shops and death. He is survived by his wife and one daughter,” he added. offices on the route are kept closed and people are not allowed to come out from their houses. Hotels are vacated and locked. Nasir Ali was a poor rickshaw driver and the sole breadwinner of Even the post boxes en-route the procession are searched to the family. “His untimely death brought untold miseries for his ensure maximum security and safety of the procession, family. Had it not been the presence of a covert mechanism augmented by deployment of personnel from the agencies,” within our community of helping out the victims of such hate explained Fazal Dad, a police officer who was an eyewitness to crimes, they may well have died of starvation,” said Asghar. that day's massacre. According to the young man, Hazara people never resort to

Racial DiscriminationA Clear & Present Danger

nothing to look forward to in this life. I have lost the most precious assets - my husband and five young sons, two of whom had only recently been married. I have become a living corpse.”

The grief-stricken widow and the mother of five slain sons said she received a letter saying 'Jihad Mubarak' (congratulation on Holy war) to us, and death to you'. “I'm not afraid of death anymore,” she said desolately.

Shah, having witnessed the merciless killings of his father and five brothers, has decided to sell his shop, a permanent economic blow to his family.

Living under Threat In Pakistan, most Hazaras live in and around Quetta, Hazara Town and Marriabad being their specific communities. “The targeted killing of Hazaras has increased manifold. There is no

begging. “You would never find any Hazara person, man or guarantee that when we leave in the morning, we would come

woman, boy or girl, asking for alms on the roads,” said Asghar.home in one piece in the evening,” said another helpless, nameless voice.

“Most Hazaras are Shia Muslims and are condemned as infidels and hence a ready target of sectarianism,” said Muhammad Ali

Some researchers are of the view that the current persecution of Changezi, Asghar's close friend. The Hazaras are of Mongol

the Hazaras has its roots in centuries old religious and ethnic origin and are recognized by their characteristic physical features

animosity. Further, the massacres, institutionalized which have made them more vulnerable. “Ours is double

discrimination and dispossession of their lands is stoked by the jeopardy,” acknowledged Changezi. “Our enemy is invisible but

Taliban. we are conspicuous because of our physical attributes,” he said.

A majority of individuals who worked in offices located on Sariab A Horror of Horrors Road (a predominantly Baloch area, notorious for target killings) Another such inhuman and unimaginable incident took place on have resigned from their jobs because they cannot take the risk. the evening of February 24, 2009 near Sariab Road in Quetta. Gulab Shah along with his six sons was about to leave work, “And those who can't afford to resign are under constant threat after closing their welding shop, when armed men opened and suffer from severe anxiety. The moment they leave their indiscriminate fire at their vehicle, killing the father and his five homes, their dependents sit on prayer mats and start praying for sons on the spot. Shah's sixth son, Syed Jalil Shah, miraculously their safe return,” said Baqir Shah, a government servant.survived sustaining some injuries.

Parents forbid their children from venturing beyond Mezan Jalil Shah, 27, said neither him nor his family members had ever Chowk (an area that separates Marriabad from the main city). “I received threats prior to the attack. Not having overcome the am under continued stress and my health has deteriorated. I am tragic incident, Shah said, “My life is ruined; nothing is left of our constantly watching over my shoulder to see if I am being family. We were targeted because we are Shias.” followed by some suspicious-looking person. I have also

become a diabetic and my doctors have advised me to take His family members had been living for the last 30 years on regular walks to help bring my sugar level down. But I cannot Sariab Road in an environment of peace and brotherhood. But even do that because of the fear of becoming the next victim,” they shifted from the place three years after the terror attack on said Raza. Shortly after this interview, Raza became a victim of a Ashura procession on March 2, 2004 in Quetta. He said the suicide attack on the Al-Quds rally on September 3, 2010, at reason for shifting was that Shias were receiving life-threatening Meezan Chowk, Quetta.letters to leave Sariab Road after Ashura tragedy. Hatred developed in Sariab area following the Ashura mayhem as a few Off to Safer Shores houses of Shias had also been set ablaze by religious extremists

For the last few years, a new trend of immigration has been in that area.

observed among the Hazaras. They have started escaping from Quetta. The destiny is mostly Australia.

“No government representative ever felt the need to visit the hospital or offer condolence,” said Shah. Sitting by his side, his

“Our youth are seeking refuge in other countries. First they mother and Gulab Shah's widow whimpered quietly. Tears rolled

venture to Indonesia legally and from there they sneak into down her wrinkled cheeks as she expressed painfully, “I have

Australia illegally,” said 38-year old Zakir Hussain, who works in

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Racial Discrimination – A Clear & Present Danger

31

a private firm.

“Sailing on a boat from Indonesia to Australia for illegal entry is a voyage that is not without its risks. Some are not as young. They are doing it to give a better future to their children. Many have put their entire life's earnings on stake by taking such big risks,” said Hussain, who knows of many friends who have ventured out of Pakistan.

“Since 2003, more than 300 Hazaras have been slain while around 1,000 have been injured and have become disabled. Initially, only a few of our youth sought immigration. Many went as students and decided to stay on. Now, with the rise in target killing, they are moving in large numbers, even if they have to do this through illegal means. When their own country is not Training School on the Sariab Road on June 8, 2003 by terrorists. able to provide security to them, they are left with little choice In continuation, Hazaras again became victims of the first suicide but to escape. But even that has become difficult as visas are attack when terrorists blew themselves after indiscriminate being denied to us. This is a violation of international law,” said firing on a Friday congregational prayer at Imambargah Kalan Hussain. (the Central Mosque of the Shias). On March 2, 2004, the Ashura

procession came under a brutal attack when suicide bombers “Around 50-60 visa applications, with all formalities fulfilled, blew themselves up after fierce firing at the innocent mourners. reach Indonesian embassy daily. Astonishingly they (Hazara applicants) are being refused without being given any reason,” On January 26, 2009, Hussain Ali Yousafi, Chairman of the Hazara said Hussain. According to him, the Hazaras believe that the Democratic Party, who was known as a nationalist and secular interior ministry is behind this discrimination. liberal leader, was brutally assassinated.

The discrimination doesn't end there. If perchance some do get This sad incident was followed by target killing of Wilayat the visa, they are harassed by the immigration authorities at the Hussain Advocate. On March 1, 2009, in a row of gruesome airports, revealed Hussain. The latter have come to know that targeted attacks, Haji Ghulam Sakhi and his young son Ali Asghar Hazaras are fleeing; taking advantage of their vulnerability, they also became victims of targeted killing on Zarghoon Road, at a hassle them even more. According to Hussain they blackmail five-minutes walking distance from Governor's House and Chief and threaten with offloading from the aeroplanes in return for Minister's Secretariat, the high security zone in Quetta. Both bribes. were sitting in their shop when two motorcyclists arrived and

sprayed them with a volley of bullets. “These are really challenging times for us,” said a young student in his early twenties, who is trying to leave the country. “It's only On February 24, 2009, Gulab Shah Hazara along with his five when you are pushed to the wall that people are forced to flee. sons was gunned down by armed men. Nobody wants to leave their country willingly. Who would want to quit his job, leave his parents, family and friends, the “The events since March 2004 highlight the severe restrictions recognition in the community, the land where one's forefathers on freedom of religion for the Hazaras. After the Ashura incident, were born and ancestors are buried, where one has spent one's the government tried its best to limit all Ashura processions and childhood? The fact of the matter is that there is no security here other Shia religious festivals,” said a notable of the community. and they (the government) don't allow us to leave this place “The persistent targeted killing of Shias in general and, of either,” he added. Hazaras in particular, is now commonplace. There seems to be

no way of stopping this. It has not only taken valuable lives of the common people but of Hazaras who are doctors, teachers and The Beginning of the Endacademics, lawyers etc. The gap may take years to fill,” he The inception of ongoing sectarian target killings of the minority exclaimed sorrowfully.Hazara Shia community in Quetta, Balochistan, took place in the

year 1999 when a Hazara notable, former Provincial Minister, “Such hatred was never so pronounced, in the past, even if it Sardar Nasir was gunned down. Luckily he sustained injuries and existed,” said a lawyer from the Hazara community. “You will escaped death. Subsequently, a row of merciless targeted now notice that under the very nose of the government, hate-killings of innocent Hazara people commenced. The second speeches against Hazaras are delivered in Friday sermons and tragic incident took place at Poodgili Chowk, en-route Hazara wall chalking with hateful slogans declaring them kafirs Town when a vehicle was ambushed and ten Hazara people (infidels) carry on. Even the government officers look upon our travelling in it were assassinated. This was followed by gunning faith as dubious and hence treat us as second rate citizens,” he down of 12 Hazara police cadets in a vehicle from the Police

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32

complained. There is much scepticism about government institutions under which prominent Islamic thinkers and clerics, motives, and also a damning indictment of the government's often state officials, continue to propagate incitement to hostility position, which reveals the very real threat Hazaras feel every against the Shias. There are two weekly newspapers Zarb-e-day. Momin and Zarb-e-Haq which openly declare Shias as infidels

and provoke non-Shias towards violence, but the government In 1998, Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan's leader, late Azam Tariq, has turned its back.” declared Shias to be infidels. “The venom of such religious pronouncements, and their consequences can now be seen in Although International laws such as, the International action,” stated a local education officer. “Shias are not allowed to Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial teach their religious or historical perspectives in schools,” he Discrimination (ICERD) and the Convention against added. According to him in 2006, Sunni teachers in schools in Discrimination in Education; and the United Nations declarations Quetta called Shia students "unbelievers" on several occasions. such as, United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Declaration Such episodes have been recorded by the students on their cell on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of phones. Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief (1981), the UNGA

Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious or Linguistic Minorities (1993), and the UNESCO Declaration on Race and Racial Prejudice (1978), prohibit discrimination on the basis of religion and protect the rights of religious and other minorities. However, rarely is this demonstrated by the authorities.

Bloody Times Ahead“I foresee a bloody clash between the communities of this area (Balochistan) in the near future. All political parties are representing different ethnic groups. What is more deplorable is the fact that religio-political parties are in power and unfortunately their words do not match their deeds. Relations are aggravating especially amongst different ethnic groups and sects in the province”, warned another rights activist.

“I must say the political solution of our issue seems a far reality,” He further stated that, “members of the Hazara community face expressed a political worker. “Our youth is educated but doesn't discrimination from the judiciary too, ranging from denial of seem much interested in politics. Hazara Democratic Party (HDP) access to justice to arbitrary arrests and discriminatory verdicts. is the only political body we have. However, there are some In case of Wilayat Hussain advocate, who was assassinated in spiritual or religious entities being followed by some youth,” he 2009, his family tried to meet the Chief Justice, but was denied. added. No suo moto action was taken by any court or any judge of the court in this respect.” According to this political activist, the target killings are a product

of the failure of policies of the state as successive governments “I have reason to believe that something heinous is going on in played an unreasonable role during the last three decades in the the echelons of power,” said a rights activist. “How is it possible region. He said that the unjustified interference of the last many for the most wanted terrorists and killers like Dawoodi Badini governments in Afghanistan's internal issues has given birth to and Usman Saifullah Kurd to escape from a cell in the Anti- numerous problems including the Kalashnikov, Jihadi and Drug Terrorist Force's (ATF) highest security zone?” he asked referring culture in Pakistan.to the incident on January 18, 2008 when the two notorious culprits escaped from a well-guarded jail of ATF in Quetta “The terrorists aim to sabotage what little peace and order there Cantonment, implying that they were helped by some elements is left and create ethnic and sectarian hatred among the Hazaras, within the security agency. Balochis and the Pushtoons, who have been living here

peacefully for centuries,” said the same political worker. According to him, recent targeted attacks on Hazaras point to their escape. He further said, “State discrimination against the “People were very optimistic and had great expectations from Shias stems from the official Hanafi and Wahabi creeds and is the incumbent governments formed after the February 18, 2008 manifested in the state's religiously-infused education system, elections, in Balochistan. Unfortunately, the expectations of the state sponsorship of official religious worship, and a judiciary people only proved delusionary. As a result of poor governance, which draws its legitimacy from Sunni-Wahabism. It is this Hazaras are repeatedly falling victim to targeted killings, umbrella of religiously legitimized or religion-infused state robberies, kidnappings for ransom and other criminal acts in

Racial Discrimination – A Clear & Present Danger

33

Quetta,” he said.

“We are citizens of Pakistan. The constitution of Pakistan guarantees protection of life and property of its citizens in the country. When the law enforcement agencies' personnel fail to perform their functions, then it becomes the job of the judiciary to take notice. The people and the civil society belonging to the Hazara tribe contributed in the struggle of the lawyers' movement which led to the restoration of sacked judges of the superior courts in the country. Everyone believes that the judiciary is independent. If that is the case, then, the Balochistan High Court (BHC) and the Supreme Court of Pakistan should take suo moto notice of this persecution and human rights abuse. The judges should summon the top officials of law enforcers and ask them why they have failed to protect the lives and properties of the Hazaras, who are citizens of Pakistan, as enunciated in the constitution,” said another political activist.

Bargahs and the holding of religious celebrations,” emphasized a young researcher belonging to a local non-governmental Hazara Qaumi Jirga (HQJ) is a tribal body which plays a significant organisation.role in resolving tribal issues and disputes among the Hazara

tribe in Quetta. The HQJ and other tribal elders have time and Suggestion for setting up of a commission that would carry again brought the matter to the notice of not just the Chief forward interfaith initiatives was also recommended by many. Minister and Governor of Balochistan but also the Prime Minister The commission, they said, would explore ways to share space and the President. “The authorities are not serious in bringing to for religious worship in Quetta and other areas of the province justice those involved behind these heinous acts against the among adherents of different Muslim creeds while respecting Hazaras. Had some terrorists been brought to justice, it would the province's dominant religious practices. The commission have deterred others from treading this path. I hold the should pay special attention to Friday prayers sermons to government responsible for the increase in the acts of terror and monitor hate mongering which tends to stoke a negative target killings in Quetta,” stated a representative of HQJ.reaction.

Searching for Solutions It was also recommended that the government should engage A famous educationist, on condition of anonymity, was of the its high religious officials, such as the office of the mufti (an view that the government should set up a commission under the Islamic scholar who is an interpreter or expounder of Islamic Social Welfare Department and provide economic and social law), the council for senior religious scholars, and the Ministry support for families of victims. He suggested that the for Religious Affairs, for preaching and religious guidance to government should legislate to provide compensations to rebut religious discrepancy.victims' families whose breadwinning members have fallen victims to terror acts.

Purging the System of Prejudice Therein Lies the Answer“We need to establish a commission comprising the Human “In my view the root cause lies deep in the very foundation of Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), community leaders, the education system. We need to promote a neutral education members of civil society, high court representatives and with system which does not support religious differences but participation from the Intelligence Bureau and the public promotes pluralism and acceptance,” was suggested by a prosecutor, to investigate the continued sectarian target killings university student from the Hazara community. of our community,” said the educationist.

However, this was contradicted by another who stated, “The “The commission should listen to eyewitness accounts of the educational system should ensure children receive religious events and make its findings public. It should also have the education in accordance to their beliefs. The students should power to order compensation to those who suffered from have the freedom to choose and practice their own religion. This sectarian target killing,” emphasised a young rights activist. should include a right to abstain from or opt out of the religious teachings that are contrary to their beliefs, and, wherever “Looking around the widespread discrimination I would urge possible (and at a minimum in all areas where Shias form a that an impartial and neutral body be established to act as a significant percentage of the population), to receive religious watchdog. It should also be empowered to protect Shias to carry education according to Shia beliefs at par with the Sunnis.”out their religious rites, protect their mosques and Imam

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34

Addressing unemployment of Hazaras was another solution. Media coverage also remains limited and at best apathetic in “Our constitution needs to ensure equity and equality in reporting such incidents although both the electronic and the employment and access to institutions of higher learning, print media can play an important role in highlighting the issue including in the security services, high ministerial positions at and the sufferings of the victim's families, thereby sensitizing

1 the government, the law enforcers and the masses about their the provincial and national level, the Shura Council , and military responsibilities, and to eventually bring about a stop to this academies,” said a lawyer. “Moreover, ensure equal access to mindless persecution of the Hazaras.justice by mandating that all persons are equal before the law

regardless of their sectarian identity, and that qualified Shia Safety of minorities requires a broad spectrum of social changes jurists can work as judges in regular courts, especially in areas to address deeply-rooted prejudices. And this may take years. with thick Shia population,” he further added.

Racial Discrimination – A Clear & Present Danger

1 Selection of selected elders who do consultation for major decisions, as advised by Islam

This case study has been authored by Dr. Suleman Qazi. During its compilation expert opinion on the subject was sought from Professor Retired Nazir Hussain, Social Activist.