QUETTA: The funeral prayers of the Hazara victims of Machh massacre were offered on Saturday, six days after the incident after which they were laid to rest.
The bodies of the coal miners killed in Machh were shifted to Hazara graveyard from Wali Asar imambargah where thousands of people gathered to offer the funeral prayers. The prayers were led by Allama Raja Nasir Abbas in Hazara Town.
National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis Zulfiqar Abbas Bukhari, Federal Minister Ali Zaidi, provincial ministers and leaders of different political parties also attended the funeral prayers.
Deputy Commissioner said in a statement that the Afghan citizens among the slain coal miners will also be buried in Quetta as well. He added that relatives of the Hazara victims agreed to bury them in Quetta, whereas the Afghan consulate has been informed about the development.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has left for Quetta to meet the bereaved families. The prime minister left on a special flight from the Noor Khan airbase. Interior Minister Shiekh Rashid is likely to accompany the premier.
Late Friday night, the negotiations between the government team and protestors staging a sit-in in Quetta succeeded after they agreed to call off the protests and bury the victims.
The government negotiators led by Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan Maritime Affairs Minister Ali Zaidi managed to persuade the Hazaras to bury the coal miners.
The committee of the victims had thanked Prime Minister Imran Khan, members of the cabinet, Chief Minister Balochistan Jam Kamal and others for agreeing to their demands.
Announcing the agreement signed by both sides, the government will take action against those responsible for the Machh incident. A special high-level commission would be formed under the chair of the provincial home minister for investigation in this regard.
The agreement stipulates that the Balochistan government will pay Rs1.5 million compensation to the heirs of each martyr as well as provide employment.
