Nawaz tells PML-N members to join Hazara protests

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has instructed PML-N leaders and workers to join countrywide protests against the killing of 10 Hazara coal miners in Balochistan’s Machh, a party spokesperson said Friday.

As protest against killings of Hazara community members in Balochistan intensified following ‘insensitive’ remarks of Prime Minister Imran Khan in the country, PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif has directed the party leaders and workers to participate in the protest camps and also announced taking this matter to the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) forum to express solidarity with the oppressed community and seek justice for the victim families.

“I strongly endorse the call for the demonstrations in support of the Hazara community. I have directed all regional leaders, workers and supporters to ensure their participation in all protests and to express robust solidarity with the aggrieved community,” Nawaz Sharif said in a direction to the party here on Friday.

He also directed former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to contact PDM president Maulana Fazlur Rehman and other leaders to take up this matter on this forum.

In a tweet, Mr Sharif further said: “The man (Imran Khan) who has become prime minister with the blessings of a few generals can never feel the pain of the masses. The oppressed people of Hazara community are waiting for the man who is calling them ‘blackmailers’. I would like to ask from those who have imposed this stone-hearted man on the nation whether they feel any regret now.”

چند جرنیلوں کی بخشیش سے وزیراعظم بننے والا کبھی عوام کا درد محسوس نہیں کر سکتا۔ اپنے پیاروں کی میتیں لیے بیٹھے مظلوم لوگ ایسے سنگدل انسان کی راہ دیکھ رہے ہیں جو انہیں”بلیک میلر” کہہ کر ان کے زخموں پر نمک پاشی کر رہا ہے۔ کیا اس پتھر دل شخص کو مسلط کرنے والوں کو بھی کوئی ندامت ہے؟ pic.twitter.com/1SRJWm0kMZ

— Nawaz Sharif (@NawazSharifMNS) January 8, 2021

The deposed premier also assured the Hazara community that the entire country stood with them at this time of crisis.

Upon his direction, a good number of PML-N workers joined the protest camps set up in different parts of the province by the Wahdatul Muslimeen to protest against the killings in Balochistan’s Mach area and ‘insensitive’ comment by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

PML-N Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb told Dawn that the PDM parties would join the protest of the Hazaras. She said taking this matter to the PDM forum was meant to express solidarity with the Hazara community and seek justice for it.

Calling on the Hazara community to refrain from blackmailing him, PM Khan said on Friday that his government had accepted all of their (protesters’) demands but one of their demands was that the dead would be buried after premier’s visit.

“I have sent them a message that when all of your demands have been accepted… you don’t blackmail the prime minister of any country like this. Anyone will blackmail the prime minister then,” Khan said. The remark also stoked outrage on the social media.