MQM's call for mourning over Shias massacre
14 January, 2013
KARACHI: The city remained completely shut on Sunday on the call given by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) to observe a mourning day against the killings of over hundred people belonging to Shia community in a bomb blast on Alamdar road, Quetta. According to details, the city wore a deserted look, as all markets, shopping centres and bazaars remained closed. The public transports, including coaches and buses remained thin in the city, while petrol and gas stations were closed. Meanwhile, Fateha and recitations from the Holy Quran were held at MQM offices throughout the country. Black flags were hoisted at the party offices and business centres, while the general public closed their business activities in order to express mourning over the killings. The main gathering was held in the Lal Qila Ground in Azizababd for paying respects to the people martyred in the blasts. Thousands of participants attended the gathering. Deputy Conveners of the Co-ordination Committee Anis Ahmed Qaimkhani, Dr Farooq Sattar, Dr Nusrat Shoukat, other members of the committee, Senators, MNAs, MPAs, office-bearers of different wings of the MQM, workers or units and sectors, and a large number of MQM sympathisers were present in Lal Qila Ground. After the recitations of the Holy Quran, Fateha was offered by Provincial Minister Abdul Haseeb. He prayed for people killed in the blast, including the cameraman of a private TV channel and personnel of the security forces. Special prayers were offered for the well-being, good health and long life of Altaf Hussain, the founder and leader of the MQM. Talking to the media persons and journalists after the fateha and prayer Dr Sattar said that the Hazara community living in the vicinity of Alamdar road was being targeted constantly. He said that the community was suffering because of continual terrorist attacks, but no one was taking notice of their plight. Dr Sattar said that there was no such things as the government in Balochistan and the callous attitude adopted by the Chief Minister of Balochistan towards the mourners holding a sit-in with the dead bodies of their loved-ones was highly reprehensible. He said that Balochistan had fallen in the grip of a handful of terrorists and nothing was being done to restore the confidence of the people on the government. He said that the Balochistan government had lost the right to rule. He said that the president and prime minister must take serious notice of the Balochistan situation and bring succor to the affected people. End.
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