Country ... Pakistan
Religion, Ethnicity, etc.

Searching for protection ... Pakistan's Shia minority continues to face violence across the country.

Burgess COMMENTARY

Peter Burgess

Searching for protection ... Pakistan's Shia minority continues to face violence across the country.

A Shi'ite Muslim takes part in protest near the covered bodies (not in picture) of Saturday's bomb attack victims during a sit-in in Quetta February 18, 2013. REUTERS/Naseer Ahmed

Is Pakistan’s government unable to provide security for its own citizens? Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, a banned Pakistani militant group, continues to target the Shia community in Balochistan province. After three deadly bombings this year claimed hundreds of lives, members of Pakistan’s Shia minority are taking up arms to defend themselves. We examine the ongoing violence against the country’s Shia community.

In this episode of The Stream, we speak to:

Mohammad Taqi @mazdaki Columnist, Daily Times

Major Nadir Ali Senior leader of Hazara tribe in Pakistan minoritysupportpakistan.com

Syed Ali Abbas Zaidi @Ali_Abbas_Zaidi plastictearz.wordpress.com Pakistan Youth Alliance

Saleem Javid @msaleemjaved Human rights activist saleemjavid.wordpress.com

Sajjad Changezi @sajjad_changezi Activist

Shehroz Hussain @shehrozhussain Student syedshehrozhussain.blogspot.com

How should Pakistan respond to violence against its Shia minority in Balochistan?