Pak Shia leaders slam Kayani for giving nothing ‘except more deaths’

Islamabad: Leaders of Pakistan’s Shia community have publicly questioned the country’s Army Chief General Ashfaq Kayani over security in the country after at least 102 people were killed in a series of bomb blasts.

Maulana Amin Shaheedi, a central leader of the Majlis-i-Wahdat-i-Muslimeen, questioned what has Kayani done with the extra three years (in office, adding that he has given nothing ‘except more deaths.’ Most of Thursday’s deaths were caused by twin attacks aimed Hazara Shias in Quetta, where members of the sect have long accused the state of turning a blind eye to extremist militant death squads. The leaders were so outraged at the latest bloodshed that they called for the military to take control of the city to shield them, the Dawn reports. The community also said they would not allow the 82 victims of twin bomb attacks to be buried until their demands were met. According to the paper, the burials had been scheduled to take place after Friday prayers, but the leaders said the bodies would remain in place until Shias receive promises of protection. ANI