Pakistan's Supreme Court sets an example by demanding a long-term strategy for a better protection of the Shiite minority

Pakistan's Supreme Court demanded that the government should develop a long-term strategy for a more effective protection of the Shiite Hazara minority. "It is an important sign that Pakistan's leading constitutional bodies are not indifferent about the increasing violence against the minority group any more," said the Asia-consultant of the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP), Ulrich Delius, in Göttingen on Thursday. "Finally, the Pakistani authorities are also being held responsible in their own country." On Tuesday, the Chief Justice, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, had also accused the provincial government of Balochistan of not providing enough protection for the Shiites. Most of the terrorist attacks against the Shiite Hazara were committed in the city of Quetta, Baluchistan. The attacks had caused worldwide consternation – and human rights organizations had called for a better protection of the minority group.

The court also dismissed an insufficient report of Balochistan's provincial government that was meant to emphasize the efforts that were undergone to improve the safety situation in Quetta. The authorities declared that the number of police officers had been increased and that more vehicle inspections had been carried out. But Judge Chaudhry insists on a clarification of the reasons behind the violence. Previously, the Supreme Court had already criticized a report issued by the Department of Defense and demanded it to be revised, because the document had not provided sufficient answers to the judges' questions.

Several Shiites had refused to bury their dead relatives following the suicide attacks by radical Sunnis – which caused 222 victims among the Shiite Hazara since the beginning of January. Their protests are widening. Even some Shiite politicians have demanded an extraordinary parliamentary session to discuss the violence in Quetta.

There are about 600,000 Shiite Hazara living in Quetta. Attacks from Sunni extremists against the minority have increased in the past years. The Sunni make up more than 80 percent of the population of Pakistan. 400 Shiite Hazara fell victim to politically motivated violence in 2012.