Pakistan’s PM urges minority community to bury miners killed by militants

People from the Shiite Hazara community chant slogans during a sit-in to protest against the killing of coal mine workers (Arshad Butt/AP)

Pakistan’s prime minister appealed to the protesting minority Shiites not to link the burial of 11 coal miners from the Hazara community who were killed by the so-called Islamic State group to his visit to the mourners, saying such a demand amounted to blackmailing the country’s premier.

Hundreds of mourners, who despite harsh cold weather have been rallying in Quetta at the miners’ coffins, want prime minister Imran Khan to personally visit them to assure their protection.