Minority Ethnic, Race and Sect Relations in Pakistan:Hazara Residing in Quetta

Abstract

This paper charts systematic persecution, ethnic profiling, target
killing, kidnapping, harassment, racial discrimination and
ghettoization, ethnic Hazara face in Quetta.The Hazara, a
marginalized ethnicity severely discriminated, began migrating
initially into British India, from Afghanistan, in 1890s. During 1962-
63, the government of Pakistan granted ethnic Hazara citizenship
rights. Constitutionally, they were to enjoy equal rights, might form
political parties, to represent them in elected bodies of Balochistan
and Pakistan. Previously, ethnic Hazara individuals rose to the
positions of:Generals; rather, Chief of the Army Staff; and to
Federal/ProvincialMinisters/Governors, in Pakistan. However, the
Hazara began facing discrimination and ethnic, cultural as well as
confessional (a majority of Hazara profess Shia sect of Islam)
persecution, in Pakitan, in the last two deacades of the previous
mellenium, at unofficial, and continue to face, both, at official and
unofficial levels. Since 2012, computerised National Identity Cards
of ethnic Hazara in Quetta have been suspended/blocked, a step
tentamount to denial of citizenship rights of Pakistan. A Sunni
militant terrorist outfit, Lashkar-Jhangive, warned ethnic Hazara of
turning Pakistan into their graveyard, in case, they did not leave this
country. Following the Iranian revolution ensuing Iran/Saudi (Shia-
Sunni) the conflict resulted in a proxy war. Hazara leaders suspect,
systematic persecution of Hazara, aims at, evicting them of
expensive land they occupy in and around Quetta. They view ethnic
profiling/cleansing not only as attempts to force Hazara to sell their
houses and businesses at throw-away prices, suspecting their
loyalties, and reversing 1962-63 official notification, that recognizes
the ethnic Hazara Pakistani citizens.