MWM, Shia councils ended “Dherna” Protest

by Zaheerul Hassan

Majlis-e-Wehdat-e-Muslameen (MWM), Unity Council of Quetta, Shia Ulema Council, All Pakistan Shia Action Committee have called for an end to the nationwide protests and sit ins condemning the Quetta bombing on Tuesday.

The Shia leader Allama Amin Shaheedi made this call while addressing the media alongside Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira.   Kaira was heading a six member government mission to Quetta which conducted successful negotiations with leaders of the Shia councils.   The Shia leader who represented the major Shia ulema councils at the media briefing, had also called for the survivors to start preparations for the burials of their loved ones. The final timing of the mass burials would be announced later, he said.   “We are thankful to everyone who participated in the overall negotiations and the protests,” he added saying that the media and the  nationwide rallies played a major role in setting a new public discourse on the issues of the Hazara community.

Addressing the media, Kaira said that the government had resolved to learn from its past mistakes and that more attention would now be paid towards providing more security to the Hazara community.   He said that the government had resolved to permanently establish a three member committee that would oversee all the required work with regards to addressing capacity building measures within the Hazara community.   “The three people committee will liaise with the Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) and other authorities, so that the progress on the work required can be monitored,” he said.   Kaira and Shaheedi also said that the operation that is currently underway started last night and was being conducted by the army.   “Army jawans are already taking part in the operations, which will go on till the time the terror infrastructure is not completely uprooted,” Shaheedi said.   “If we can eradicate terrorism from Pakistan after this incident then this would be a victory for the martyrs,”  he remarked.   Shaheedi and Kaira also resolved to keep the media abreast with all developments so that the nation could be taken into confidence.