Parachinar blast: Shia community protests against 'targeted killings' in Pakistan

DN Correspondent

Parachinar, which holds a majority of the Shia community, witnessed carnage last week when twin bombs ripped through a crowded market ahead of the Eid celebrations.

Shia community
Shia community


Gilgit: With the death toll in the deadly Parachinar blast crossing 70, the Shia community in Gilgit carried out protests against the Pakistan Government, saying that targeted killings of Shias are being carried out.

Parachinar, which holds a majority of the Shia community, witnessed carnage last week when twin bombs ripped through a crowded market ahead of the Eid celebrations.

At least 75 people were killed and more than 300 injured in two subsequent blasts that rocked a densely populated area of Parachinar. The blasts took place three minutes from each other.

Also Read | Pakistan Foreign Office summons Indian diplomat over LoC firing

Also Read: Syria: 45 killed in car bomb explosion

The first blast took place at Turi Market while the second explosion occurred when rescuers and bystanders rushed to help the survivors of the first blast, reported 

Kurram is the only Shia Muslim region in a predominantly Sunni country. Sunni hardliners, currently operating through different Taliban factions including the Islamic State group, consider them heretics and have often targeted them.

Also Read | "We are not from Pakistan": Farmer leaders express concern over forces' actions against protestors

Also Read: Russia- 10 killed, over dozen people wounded in blast at St. Petersburg metro station

In a deadly bombing in March this year, a blast outside an imambargah located in a busy Parachinar market claimed the lives of 24 people and left 90 others injured.

Shias make up about one third of Pakistan's population of nearly 200 million. (With ANI Inputs)










Related Stories