QUETTA: Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar said on Friday he took suo moto notice of Hazara killings in Quetta as it is akin to “genocide”.
“We do not have words to condemn the incidents of Hazara killings,” a two-member bench headed by the chief justice and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan said during a hearing of the suo motu notice at Supreme Court’s Quetta Registry.
The CJP had taken suo motu notice of Hazara killings on May 2 and had summoned a report from the Balochistan government, Levies, police and Interior Ministry.
“For me the targeted killings of the Hazara community in Quetta is ethnic cleansing and thus I had to take suo motu,” the CJP explained.
Apprising the court, the counsel of the Hazara community, Advocate Iftikhar Ali, said, “We are facing a personal and financial loss.”
“Members of the Hazara community are not given admission in universities and people have sold their businesses,” the counsel added. Ali further said, “Some members of the community were forced to migrate to Australia.” The Hazara community counsel further told the court, “Security from 15 of our leaders has been withdrawn.” However, DIG Quetta denied taking back the security. To this, Justice Nisar remarked that a committee has been formed to look into the matter. Advocate Iftikhar Ali further told the court, “Hazaras are being killed for the last 20 years.” – Agencies
