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

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.

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, reports the Express Tribune.

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.

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.