Daily Times

Among things that have become permanent in Pakistan is the menace of sectarianism. It not only continues unabated, it is on the rise across the length and breadth of our country, brazenly wreaking violence and bloodshed. In the past two days, Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), mainly dominated by Shia-Ismaili Muslims, faced one of the worst kinds of violence in its history when over 20 people lost their lives during the deadly clashes unleashed after some unknown people threw a hand grenade on the participants of a rally of the banned organisation, Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ). The ASWJ protestors were demanding the release of their detained party members allegedly involved in a firing incident on a Shia procession last month. In a separate incident, a gunman killed nine Shias on board a bus near Chilas, following the same pattern of murders committed at a highway near Kohistan a few weeks ago. Sunni prayer leaders in Kashroot made provocative announcements against Shias while many Balti Shias armed with weapons took to the streets. Tension mounted across the region, so much so that the GB government had to call in the army to control the situation, imposing a curfew in Gilgit city and even giving shoot-at-sight orders.

The history of communal and sectarian violence in GB is quite old. It started in the 1970s and reached its climax in the 1980s under General Zia’s pro-jihadist regime. People in GB have continuously been facing sectarian tension that often causes severe unrest and carnage. The current spate of violence was, however, anticipated as we had already pointed out in this space after the massacre of Shia community members in buses near Kohistan that the wave of sectarian violence if not checked in time would result in further unrest. Had the law enforcers realised the mounting tension earlier and taken pre-emptive measures, many precious lives could have been saved. The situation raises a question on the unabated activities of the banned ASWJ. Why has it been allowed to hold a rally against the arrest of its members facing charges of terrorism? Similarly, the incident once again brings to the fore the need for a deweaponisation campaign in the country generally, and in GB in particular. Despite the army’s presence in the restive areas, the situation in GB is still tense. It seems difficult to keep watch over the scattered populace of the mountainous area. However, the anger of the population can only be controlled by putting a stop to the activities of sectarian groups playing with lives with impunity. *