"The terrorist attack on the Hazara Shia community in

Quetta is a failure of the intelligence and security forces," he said while visited the injured at a hospital. "We had given a free hand to security (forces) to take action against terrorist and extremist groups, but despite that the Quetta incident took place," he said. A strike was observed in Quetta to protest the attack. The strike was called by the Majlis-e-Wahdat Muslimeen and the Hazara Democratic Party. Azizullah Hazara, vice-chairman of the Hazara Democratic Party, said the party would launch more protests if security forces did not carry out targeted operations against militant groups within 48 hours. Hundreds of Shias joined a protest at Hazara Town. Protests were also organised by Shias and rights groups in cities across Pakistan, including Islamabad, Lahore, Hyderabad, Mirpur Mathelo and Khairpur Nathan Shah. The Balochistan government announced a day of mourning while Shia groups asked people to observe seven days of mourning. Shias, especially the Hazaras who stand out due to their distinctive features, have been increasingly attacked by militant groups like the LeJ and Sipah-e-Sahaba that describe them as heretics and non-Muslims. Shias make up 20 per cent of Sunni-majority Pakistan�s population of 180 million. According to Human Rights Watch, over 400 Shias were killed in targeted attacks across Pakistan last year. The rights group said over 125 were killed in Balochistan province, most of whom Hazaras.