By Abdul Shakoor
Pakistan is experiencing resurgence in sectarian violence as exhibited by recent major attacks in the country. It is a part of strategy of hostile organizations to break the social fabric of Pakistan through sectarian violence and these attacks are also very dangerous for country’s economy and development. This time, peaceful, progressive and moderate Ismaili community became the victim of this nefarious design. The Safoora Chowrangi attack was perpetrated at a time when everyone was jubilant on the upcoming Pak-China Economic Corridor. The Ismaili community has made significant contribution in Pakistan’s development, therefore the selection of target and the timing of the attack clearly indicates that it is handiwork of those elements, who always want to see Pakistan as a poor and economically underdeveloped country. Realizing the negative implications of sectarian violence, people must remain peaceful because they will suffer ultimately from it.
Sindh Police has got breakthrough in Safoora Chowrangi attack and it has arrested main culprits. The initial investigations have revealed that Al-Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent and Al-Qaeda’s affiliates TTP and LeJ are involved in this gruesome attack. No direct involvement of Indian RAW has been confirmed so far. However, it is pertinent to mention that Al-Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent is led by an Indian National Asim Umar, who is suspected to have links with RAW. Moreover, RAW’s manipulation of TTP, Baloch separatists and other terrorists outfits from Afghanistan is a well known fact. No doubt, Al-Qaeda, TTP, LeJ and other militant groups are mainly responsible for this resurgence in sectarian violence but some reports of law enforcement agencies also suggest RAW is actually directing this violence.
Earlier investigation reports of police had revealed that most of the sectarian attacks were not motivated by sectarian aspirations and religious hate. This finding is based on forensic investigations into sectarian killings, which indicates that same weapons and killing patterns are being used in targeting the leaders of various sects in the country. Moreover, some arrested terrorists had also confessed that they were killing Shia and Sunni scholars and personalities simultaneously. These facts take us to the conclusion that a third group is staging assassinations of rival sectarian parties under one coordinated scheme to provoke large scale religious and sectarian violence in the country. This scheme is a handiwork of a hostile agency and we should see the resurgence in sectarian attacks in the light of these findings.
In 2015, several incidents of sectarian and religious violence have taken place including attacks in twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. On 9 January, Imambargah Aun Mohammad Rizvi was attacked in Chatian Hatian area of Rawalpindi and 8 persons were killed. Another explosion took place at the Imambargah Qasr-e-Sakina on 17 February in New Shakrial area of Islamabad in which 2 persons were killed. Also, 60 persons were killed and 60 were injured in a deadly attack on an Imambargah in Shekarpur on 30 January. Similar attacks are taking place in KPK and Balochistan in this year. This wave of violence is not dying down and sectarian tensions are further heightened by killings of local leaders of sectarian outfits and protests of their activists.
There are many factors responsible for this sharp rise of sectarian violence in the country including the success of Operation Zarb-e-Azb. This operation has dismantle Al-Qaeda and TTP networks in Pakistan and now these groups are choosing soft targets, mosques, Imambargahs and religious congregations to show their presence. The war in Yemen has intensified sectarian rivalry in Middle East. Iran and Saudi Arabia have stepped up their covert fight for greater influence in the region. The domino effect of Yemen crisis is also felt in Pakistan as Iran and Arab states have already been strengthening their sectarian proxies in the country. Besides India, some Gulf States are also uneasy on Pak-China Economic Corridor and the rich minerals treasures of Balochistan and strategic importance of Gawadar Port are the focus of all the major powers. The various schemes of division and maps of independent Balochistan projected by strategic organizations of these powers make this fact evident. The overall deteriorating situation of law and order in Sindh and Balochistan is also contributing factor for the brazen attacks of sectarian outfits in the country.
It is a fact that the sectarian violence remains limited only to the members of sectarian groups and the general public in Pakistan is living in religious harmony. People never became involved in religious riots on community level. However, the heightened sectarian violence is becoming the greatest security threat to Pakistan. In November 2013, large-scale violence broke out in Rawalpindi during Muharram and the Government had to impose curfew. The law enforcing agencies then got success in maintaining the law and order with the help of the Army. Similarly, In August 2013, large-scale violence took place in the central Punjab and the Government had to impose a curfew in district Bhakkar to control the sectarian riots. The attacks on Hazara Shia community of Balochistan have also been a major contributing factor in the overall sectarian tension in the country. In January 2013, the protests of this community brought the whole country to standstill.
As these facts and arguments have prove that hostile elements are conducting sectarian attacks under one coordinated scheme to disrupt the inter-sect harmony in the country, people must remain peaceful to preserve our national interests integration. People should also realize that the establishment of madressah systems on sectarian basis and involvement of mosques in hate speech are the catalyst for this violent behavior in Pakistani society. THEREFORE, they need to cooperate with the government for madressah reforms. They should also alert law enforcement agencies against those culprits who are promoting hate speech and sectarian literature in the society. The escalation of country’s sectarian conflict should be countered offensively and it is only possible with responsible attitude and behavior of people in this regard.
