Thousands of mourners gathered in Pakistan Saturday for the burial of 10 miners who were killed in an attack claimed by the Islamic State group.
Pakistani officials have notably long denied the presence of Islamic State in the country, but the group has claimed a number of attacks including a bombing at a market in 2019.
These deaths had then sparked an outcry over the lack of protection for workers, leading to countrywide blockade.
Govt putting best efforts to go after elements trying to fan sectarian strife: PM
January 09, 2021
Prime Minister Imran Khan has assured the Hazara Community to provide them full protection and track down those behind the gruesome Machh incident.
Interacting with the bereaved families of the martyrs of Machh incident in Quetta on Saturday, he said the federal and provincial governments will play their part in this regard.
He said a special cell is being established in the security forces to ensure the protection of Hazara community.
The Prime Minister said he and the entire nation fully shares the pain of Hazara community and stands behind them and that they will not be left alone at this critical juncture.
PM Imran Khan meets heirs of Mach martyrs, assures full protection to Hazara Community
January 9, 2021
QUETTA, Pakistan: Prime Minister Imran Khan has assured the Shia Hazara Community to provide them full protection and track down those behind the gruesome Mach incident.
Interacting with the bereaved families of the martyrs of the Mach incident in Quetta on Saturday, he said that a Special Cell is being established in the security forces to ensure the protection of the Hazara Community.
The prime minister said that he and the entire nation fully shares the pain of the Hazara community and stands behind them and that they will not be left alone at this critical juncture.
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The reprehensible slaughter of Mach coal miners S M Hali
The New Year, which was expected to usher in glad tidings in the wake of the challenges of COVID-19 and the political impasse created by the opposition, instead, revived the horrors of terrorism, supposedly on the decline. The horrendous strike occurred in Pakistan’s soft underbelly, Balochistan and the victims are the hapless Hazaras. According to reports, eleven coal miners were killed after unidentified men kidnapped and were later slaughtered at the Mach coalfield of Bolan district, around 80km away from Quetta in Balochistan on Sunday, January 3, 2021. Four other miners were seriously injured. According to officials, the miners shared a residential room near the coal mine where they worked.
Imran Khan reaches Quetta after burial of 11 slain Hazara coal miners ANI | Updated: Jan 09, 2021 18:06 IST
Quetta (Balochistan) [Pakistan], January 9 (ANI): Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan reached Quetta on Saturday, hours after 11 coal miners from Hazara community, who were brutally killed in the attack on January 3 were buried at the city s Hazara Town cemetery.
He is expected to meet the family of miners later today, Dawn reported. His visit comes a day after he accused grieving families of slain miners of blackmailing him after they refused to bury the remains of the miners until Prime Minister Khan visits them.
Since the attack, the relatives of those killed had placed their coffins on a highway in Quetta and refused to bury the dead until the killers were apprehended and Khan came to meet them.