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II. Attacks on Hazara and Other Shia in Balochistan
The following are illustrative cases of sectarian attacks against Hazara and other Shia in
Balochistan since major attacks began in 2003. This is not intended to be an exhaustive
list and omission of specific cases is in no way a reflection that Human Rights Watch does
not consider each case to be a tragedy in itself.
Hazara Mosque Attack, July 2003
The first major attack on Hazaras in Balochistan took place on July 4, 2003, in Quetta
when three Sunni gunmen entered a Hazara mosque during Friday prayers and killed 53
people and wounded 57 others. 64 Authorities later reported that one of the attackers was
confirmed to be a suicide bomber. 65 The LeJ claimed responsibility for the attack. 66 Family
members of victims report ongoing threats and follow-up attacks by what they suspect
were LeJ militants.
Fatima, widow of Kashif Raza, a shopkeeper killed in the attack, is one of several family
members of victims of the Hazara mosque attack who told Human Rights Watch that
suspected LeJ militants continue to attack them and threaten their safety:
Our family is still receiving threats from the LeJ, but we have not lodged a
complaint with the local authorities because they will do nothing. My
brother along with his five friends was also attacked on May 30, 2008.
The young men, all between 17 and 21 years of age, were returning home
after a cricket match. Gunmen on motorbikes surrounded and opened fire
on them in the early evening on Samungli Road in Quetta. My brother was
injured, but survived, while his friends lost their lives. My family has not
filed any complaints because they have no strong backing to be taken
seriously by the authorities. Police and security agencies have not caught
64 Saleem Shahid and Amanullah Kasi, “Attack on Quetta imambargah leaves 44 dead,” Dawn, July 5, 2003,
http://archives.dawn.com/2003/07/05/top1.htm (accessed May 28, 2013); Lakshman, “Sectarian Terror in Quetta,” Outlook
India, July 10, 2003, http://www.outlookindia.com/article/Sectarian-Terror-In-Quetta/220701. (accessed June 20, 2014).
65 Tim McGirk, “A Prayer Before Dying,” Time, July 7, 2003,
http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,463128,00.html (accessed May 2, 2014).
66 Ibid.
19 HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH | JUNE 2014