Pakistan’s Sectarian Violence can be End?

By Zaheerul Hassan

On November 20th and 21st 2012 terrorists rocked four Pakistani sensitive cities (Karachi, Rawalpindi, Quetta and Peshawar). In this militancy at least 30 individuals killed and over 60 individuals injured Suicidal blasts at the occasions of 20 November 2012 President, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has strongly and PML(N) Chief Nawaz Shrief have condemned the bomb blasts in Rawalpindi and other cities. They also expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives in the unfortunate incident. The Prime Minister directed the concerned authorities to immediately start relief operation and provide best medical treatment to the injured. He directed the concerned authorities to investigate the incident and submit a report in this regard. Bomb disposal squad is trying to defuse the hand grenades.

The sectarianism is not limited to the Islamic society alone; it can be observed in prevails in the other faiths like, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, and Sikhism. We can observer that over a time sectarianism expanded Muslims countries because of for getting the answer of the questions. In fact sectarianism started soon after the emergence of Pakistan, but the major sectarian conflict started in General Zia-ul Haq regime. Pakistan is Sunnis dominated country where they are in majority i.e. 80 % of Muslims, whereas Shi‘as have a small but influential minority .i.e. 20% of the Muslim population. Somehow consequences of Iranian revolution and Zia-ul-Haq Islamization policy of promoting certain sect presented Pakistan as that state which has religion monopoly. We also know that religion without sectarian denomination has little meaning for a common man in Pakistan.

Sectarianism caused disharmony in the area. People emigrated, lost their livelihood and even their lives. According to Ahmar (2008) the sectarian conflict in Pakistan is unique in the sense that it has both internal and external dimensions.

Still remember those days’ people of Sunni and others sects used to arrange “Sabeels” and food stuffs (soft drinks) at the roads sides on the Day of “Ashura” in the routes of Muharram procession. Similar sort of arrangements used to be carried out by all sects at the occasions of Milad-un-Nabi on 12 Rabi-ul-Awwal (third month of the Islamic calendar) also known as the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday. For more than a quarter of a century of Pakistan’s existence, both Shi‘as and Sunnis have lived in peace and harmony. There were small frictions between the two communities, yet the level of tolerance was maintained by the two sides. Things however began to take an ugly turn when violence and terrorism was inducted in the sectarian conflict in Pakistan resulting in the deaths and injuries of thousands of people.

Frequent clashes between the two sects left hundreds dead and thousands injured, including Iranian diplomats, senior state functionaries and important religious leaders on both sides. The recent sectarian strife has engulfed even those areas, which were previously unaffected, largely because of the interference of hostile agencies and emergence of organized terrorists group along sectarian lines. Besides target killing, this group now hit even ordinary members of each other sects, whenever and wherever they find it operationally convenient. The problem, therefore, is no more of an occasional nature or limited to isolated localities rather it has now become a national concern with serious implications for the state and society.

Anyhow, the ongoing blasts wave in the month of Moharram is prinking few questions in my mind are now that; what went wrong in our society, why we became hyper enemies of each other, why Muslims are killing each other, why Islamic countries are using Pakistan as their killing grounds, why Pakistani religious leaders are reluctant to condemn openly?, Why we have become intolerant to each other?, can we promote religious harmony in our society?.

The recent sectarian strife has engulfed even those areas which were previously unaffected, largely because of the interference of hostile agencies and emergence of organized terrorists group along sectarian lines. In this regard CIA, RAW, Mossad, MI-6 and intelligence agencies of certain Islamic countries’ hands seem to be involved in promoting violence due to their own vested interest in Pakistan. The blasts waves in Pakistan reveal that foreign sponsored elements have been activated with a view to spread sectarian violence in Pakistan at the occasion of “D Eight Conference”. Reportedly, foreign hostile intelligences have planned try to do more blasts in the ‘Mujalis”, procession and Mosques to fuel the ongoing blasts wave.

In short, there is a need to show solidarity to fight back the terrorism. The political and religious leaders should condemn the anti-Pakistan elements and their sponsored those are being played in the foreign hands and giving life losses to the peaceful and innocent citizens. Moreover it is high time that unity and brotherhood amongst various sects is the need of hour especially at this moment when Pakistan is facing multi-dimensional external as well as internal threats. The only way out of present adverse situation is; to be vigilante, tolerate, unite and respect others religions and faiths with a view to defeat terrorism in the country. Government of Pakistan should also take steps in creating religion and regional harmony through education, improving and elevation of poorer people of the country.