CJP Nisar says Hazara killings amount to genocide

QUETTA: Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar on Friday said he is at a loss for words to condemn the unfortunate incidents of the targeted killing of members of the Quetta’s Shia Hazara community, calling the killings as genocide. 

He made these remarks while hearing a suo motu case concerning the killing of people belonging to the Hazara community at the apex court’s Quetta registry.

“For me, this is genocide, which is why I had to take cognizance,” Justice Nisar said.

A lawyer representing the ostracized community lamented that the community has not only been bearing the losses in terms of lives and properties, but also deprived of jobs, forcing them to migrate to Australia.

He said the Hazara people have been targeted for two decades, but no one so far has been brought to book.

The chief justice said the security agencies will have to ensure protection to the lives and properties of members of the community and directed them to come up with reports, explaining how this all has been going on.

The Inspector General of Balochistan police presented a report, submitting that 435 people have been killed on the basis of their ethnicity over past six years.

He said the security situation has improved now as nine people belonging to the Hazara community were targeted in four months, while 28 security personnel were martyred this year.