Pakistan SC summons officials over attacks on Shias

Pakistan's Supreme Court on Tuesday summoned the defence and interior secretaries as it took up a suo motu case regarding the killing of hundreds of Shias in terror attacks in the southwestern city of Quetta.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, which is hearing the case, directed the two secretaries to appear in court at noon.

The bench also sought reports from several departments regarding the twin suicide bombings in Quetta on January 10 and another devastating bomb attack on February 16.

The Chief Justice had taken suo motu notice of the attacks on Monday after receiving a note on the issue from the Supreme Court's Registrar.

Ninety two people, most of them Shia Hazaras, were killed in the January 10 attack while nearly 90 people died on Saturday.

Both attacks were carried out in Shia-dominated areas of Quetta.

Hundreds of Shias have joined a sit-in protest in Quetta and refused to bury dozens of bodies till the security of the city is handed over to the army and the government takes steps to protect the minority community.

Shias and rights groups have also organised protests in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi.