Assassin of Hazaras Arrested: Police

Police say "Assassin of Hussain Ali Yousafi and other Hazaras arrested".

Quetta: Quetta Police say the assassin of Shaheed Yousafi, Chairman Hazara Democratic Party, Syed Talib Agha , DSP Hassan Ali, a Hazara police officer, Chief Mine Inspector Eng. Ashraf Changezi, Advocate Wulayet, and many other Hazaras, who were killed in the recent wave of target killings, have been arrested.

Hafiz Usman alias Abbas Muhammadshai is a high-profile member of Lashkar-e-Janghvi, the militant outfit that claimed responsibility for the attack on Hazara Imam Bargah, Hazara Police Cadets and many other secterian and ethnic attacks in Quetta. Police say Hafiz Usman has accepted responsibility for the murders of Hussain Ali Yousafi and all recent incidents of target killing. While presenting him in front of media, Hafiz Usman made “Victory” sign. Police also said it has seized the AK-47 used in the recent incidents of target killing of Hazaras.

The consecutive target killing of Hazaras have claimed lives of over 300 innocent people since the beginning of 2009. Law enforcement agencies were totally failed to stop the target killing, which is still going on in Quetta. The recent dramatic arrest of a member of Lashkar-e-Janghvi seems a symbolic move by the concerned quarters. Lashkar-e-Jangvi is not an underground outfit. Intelligence agencies know all whereabouts of its leadership and members, but have kept closed-eyes towards them.

Some Hazaras beleive assassination of the professional and political leadership of Hazaras are carried out by “hidden black hands” with strong presence in the establishment. Arrest of one member of a militant organization is very dramatic. His “victory” sign shows he is assured of his fate. Last year in January, two terrorists of Lashkar-e-Jangvi, Hafiz Saifur Rehman and Shafiqur Rehman, responsible for attacks on Ashura Procession of 2004, Hazara Imam Bargah and Hazara Police Cadets, broke away from a high-profile Anti-Terrorist Force Jail in Quetta.