2011 Mastung bus shooting
Encyclopedia
The 2011 Mastung bus shooting was an armed attack on 20 September 2011 on a bus traveling in Mastung
near the city of Quetta
in the Pakistan
i province of Balochistan
. The attack left at least 26 people dead. The victims were Shi'a
Muslim pilgrims of the Hazara community, suggesting the attack to have been a targeted killing
of sectarian
nature. The attack occurred in Luck Pass area near Mastung. The bus was leaving Quetta for Taftan, Balochistan. In addition, 2 others were killed in a follow-up attack on a car on its way to rescue the survivors of the bus attack, which raised the death toll to 28 on that day.
Lashkar-e-Jhangvi
, a Sunni Pakistani militant group designated by a terrorist organization by Pakistan and the U.S. claimed responsibility for the attack.
cemetery. The bodies were taken to 26 Imabargahs within Hazara Town region
Chief Minister, Aslam Raisani. Thousands of women and children took part in the protest and demanded United nations to take notice of what has been happening to Hazara people Protests, rallies and demonstrations were held in the wake of the terrorist attack in many different parts of the country, including in Karachi
, Skardu
, Muzaffarabad
, Nawabshah
, Sukkur
, Ghotki
and Multan
.
The President of Pakistan
, Asif Ali Zardari
, Balochistan Governor Zulfiqar Magsi, Chief Minister Aslam Raisani, The Universal Muslim Association of America (UMAA) and others strongly condemned the barbaric attack on Hazara Shia minority in Quetta.
The Chief Justice at the Balochistan High Court
took suo moto
notice of the killings and issued notices to the federal and provincial Government of Balochistan in the wake of the attack.
A committee was formed by Balochistan Chief Minister, to probe the incident and report within 15 days. The committee comprised Interior Secretary Major (R) Chaudhry Qamar Zaman, Inspector General
Balochistan Police
Rao Mohammad Amin Hashim, Commissioner of Quetta and Khuzdar
Division Naseem Lehri, Capital City Police Officer Quetta Ehsan Mahboob, Deputy Commissioner of Quetta Shaukat Ali Maraghzani and Mastung Deputy Commissioner Noorul Haq Baloch.
The license of the company which was carrying the pilgrims was canceled by Home Minister Mir Zafarullah Zehri. Iranian Government closed the Taftan border with Iran
after the incident.
Mastung District
Mastung District is a district located in the north west of Balochistan province, Pakistan. Prior to 1991, Mastung was part of Kalat District. For administrative purposes Mastung was separated from Kalat and made a new district in 1991.-Administration:...
near the city of Quetta
Quetta
is the largest city and the provincial capital of the Balochistan Province of Pakistan. Known as the "Fruit Garden of Pakistan" due to the diversity of its plant and animal wildlife, Quetta is home to the Hazarganji Chiltan National Park, which contains some of the rarest species of wildlife in the...
in the Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
i province of Balochistan
Balochistan
Balochistan or Baluchistan is a region which covers parts of Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan. It can also refer to one of several modern and historical territories within that region:...
. The attack left at least 26 people dead. The victims were Shi'a
Shi'a Islam
Shia Islam is the second largest denomination of Islam. The followers of Shia Islam are called Shi'ites or Shias. "Shia" is the short form of the historic phrase Shīʻatu ʻAlī , meaning "followers of Ali", "faction of Ali", or "party of Ali".Like other schools of thought in Islam, Shia Islam is...
Muslim pilgrims of the Hazara community, suggesting the attack to have been a targeted killing
Target killings in Pakistan
In Pakistan, target killings have been a rising form of violence and have contributed to security instability in the country. They have become common and have gained attention especially in Karachi, Pakistan's largest city and economic capital. Police and law enforcement agencies have sometimes...
of sectarian
Sectarian violence in Pakistan
Sectarian violence in Pakistan spark up occasionally between the predominant Sunnis and minority Shias. According to Library of Congress, Pew Research Center, Oxford University, the CIA Factbook and other experts, Shi'a Islam in Pakistan make up 5-20% of the total Muslim population, while the...
nature. The attack occurred in Luck Pass area near Mastung. The bus was leaving Quetta for Taftan, Balochistan. In addition, 2 others were killed in a follow-up attack on a car on its way to rescue the survivors of the bus attack, which raised the death toll to 28 on that day.
Lashkar-e-Jhangvi
Lashkar-e-Jhangvi
Lashkar-e-Jhangvi is a militant organization. Formed in 1996, it has operated in Pakistan since Sipah-e-Sahaba activist Riaz Basra broke away from the SSP over differences with his seniors...
, a Sunni Pakistani militant group designated by a terrorist organization by Pakistan and the U.S. claimed responsibility for the attack.
Funeral
The burial ceremony was conducted next day, in Hazara TownHazara town
Hazara Town is a lower- to middle-income area on the west of Quetta city with a population of up to 70,000, of which an approximately one-third are Hazara with minority Baloch and Pathan tribe on south of Hazara town. Hazara Town begins from Brewery Road near Bolan Medical College and continue to...
cemetery. The bodies were taken to 26 Imabargahs within Hazara Town region
Protest and reactions
Protesters held a peaceful protest against the attack on Hazara pilgrims. The protesters demanded the resignation of BalochistanBalochistan
Balochistan or Baluchistan is a region which covers parts of Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan. It can also refer to one of several modern and historical territories within that region:...
Chief Minister, Aslam Raisani. Thousands of women and children took part in the protest and demanded United nations to take notice of what has been happening to Hazara people Protests, rallies and demonstrations were held in the wake of the terrorist attack in many different parts of the country, including in Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
, Skardu
Skardu
Skardu , is the main town of the region Baltistan and the capital of Skardu District, one of the districts making up Pakistan's Gilgit Baltistan....
, Muzaffarabad
Muzaffarabad
Muzaffarabad is the capital of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, Pakistan. It is located in Muzaffarabad District on the banks of the Jhelum and Neelum rivers...
, Nawabshah
Nawabshah
Nawabshah , or Shaheed Benazirabad, is a district in the Sindh province of Pakistan. It is headquarter of Shaheed Benazir Abad District...
, Sukkur
Sukkur
Sukkur, or Sakharu , formerly Aror and Bakar, is the third largest city of Sindh province, situated on the west bank of Indus River in Pakistan in Sukkur District. However, the word Sakharu in Sindhi means "superior", which the spelling of the city's name in Sindhi suggests is the origin of the...
, Ghotki
Ghotki District
Ghotki District is a district of Sindh Province, Pakistan. According to the 1998 census it had a population of 970,549 of which 15.69%. Mirpur Mathelo is the capital of Ghotki District.-Administration:...
and Multan
Multan
Multan , is a city in the Punjab Province of Pakistan and capital of Multan District. It is located in the southern part of the province on the east bank of the Chenab River, more or less in the geographic centre of the country and about from Islamabad, from Lahore and from Karachi...
.
The President of Pakistan
President of Pakistan
The President of Pakistan is the head of state, as well as figurehead, of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Recently passed an XVIII Amendment , Pakistan has a parliamentary democratic system of government. According to the Constitution, the President is chosen by the Electoral College to serve a...
, Asif Ali Zardari
Asif Ali Zardari
Asif Ali Zardari is the 11th and current President of Pakistan and the Co-Chairman of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party . He is also the widower of Benazir Bhutto, who served two nonconsecutive terms as Prime Minister....
, Balochistan Governor Zulfiqar Magsi, Chief Minister Aslam Raisani, The Universal Muslim Association of America (UMAA) and others strongly condemned the barbaric attack on Hazara Shia minority in Quetta.
The Chief Justice at the Balochistan High Court
Balochistan High Court
The High Court of Balochistan is the highest judicial institution of Balochistan, Pakistan. The court is formally known as High Court of Balochistan...
took suo moto
Suo moto
Suo motu, meaning "on its own motion," is a Latin legal term, approximately equivalent to the term sua sponte. For example, it is used where a government agency acts on its own cognizance, as in "the Commission took suo motu control over the matter." Example - "there is no requirement that a court...
notice of the killings and issued notices to the federal and provincial Government of Balochistan in the wake of the attack.
A committee was formed by Balochistan Chief Minister, to probe the incident and report within 15 days. The committee comprised Interior Secretary Major (R) Chaudhry Qamar Zaman, Inspector General
Inspector General
An Inspector General is an investigative official in a civil or military organization. The plural of the term is Inspectors General.-Bangladesh:...
Balochistan Police
Balochistan Police
The Balochistan Police are responsible for policing in the province of Balochistan, Pakistan. The current Inspector-General of Balochistan Police is Malik Muhammad Iqbal, Bps [22]-See also:* Law enforcement in Pakistan...
Rao Mohammad Amin Hashim, Commissioner of Quetta and Khuzdar
Khuzdar
Khuzdar or Khozdar is a town located in Khuzdar District in Balochistan, Pakistan. Khuzdar is the capital of Khuzdar District, which was created on 1 March 1974...
Division Naseem Lehri, Capital City Police Officer Quetta Ehsan Mahboob, Deputy Commissioner of Quetta Shaukat Ali Maraghzani and Mastung Deputy Commissioner Noorul Haq Baloch.
The license of the company which was carrying the pilgrims was canceled by Home Minister Mir Zafarullah Zehri. Iranian Government closed the Taftan border with Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
after the incident.
See also
- September 2010 Quetta bombingSeptember 2010 Quetta bombingThe September 2010 Quetta bombing occurred on September 3, 2010 in Quetta, Pakistan. At least 73 people were killed and 160 injured when a bomb exploded in a Quds Day procession which Shias were carrying out to express solidarity with Palestinians....
- Persecution of Hazara peoplePersecution of Hazara peopleThis is a list of target killings and terrorist attacks which have been carried out as part of a systematic persecution of the Hazara people, a Shi'a Muslim ethnic minority in central Afghanistan and western Pakistan.-2001:...
- Balochistan, Pakistan