NOVANEWS
By Sajjad Shaukat
Sectarian violence continues in Pakistan in one form or the other. In this regard, Punjab President
of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ), Maulana Shamsur Rehman Muaviya was shot dead by the
two unidentified gunmen in Lahore on December 6, this year. A large number of workers of
ASWJ staged sit-in protest and demonstrations across the country against his targeted killing.
Particularly, in Lahore, shops and roads were closed and traffic jams were witnessed due to
protest. Besides, on December 3, a senior leader of Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) was
assassinated by two armed men on the University Road in Karachi. Following the incident, MA
Jinnah Road was blocked and protesters pelted passing vehicles with stones, which also resulted
in traffic jams in many parts of the city. Petrol pumps and CNG filling stations were also closed.
New wave of sectarian violence started in the aftermath of Rawalpindi tragedy which witnessed
bloodshed between Shia mourners and Sunnis, leaving 10 dead and several injured in the city
on November 15. Angry protesters targeted the mosque and the seminary, torching its building
including an adjacent cloth market where events of looting and arson occurred. The incident was
followed by violent demonstrations and bloody clashes between the two religious sects, which
also took place in Multan, Chishtian, Bahawalnagar, Kohat and Hangu. Curfew was imposed and
Army was called to restore peace not only in Rawalpindi, but also in other affected-cities.
In this regard, several Ulema (Religious scholars) and politicians belonging to Majlis-e-Wahdat-
e-Muslimeen, Sunni Ittehad Council, The Sunni Tehreek Ulema Board, The Melli Yakjaheti
Council, Tanzeem-i-Nefazi Fiqa Jafria, Jamaat-e-Islami, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F and Muttahida
Quami Movement said, “Conspiracies were being hatched to destroy peace in the country though
sectarian divide…the enemies had once again succeeded in igniting sectarian strife.” They also
urged the masses to be patient to foil the international conspiracy and asked the government to
unmask the culprits including some hidden forces behind the Pindi sectarian incident.
However, the Rawalpindi tragedy carried the swelling prospects of spreading sectarian unrest
in the country—there is a need to defuse the tense situation by undertaking various measures to
resolve the sectarian crisis.
In this context, peace call of the Defa-e-Pakistan Council (DPC) to avert sectarian violence is
of special consideration, as it is a step in right direction. Notably, in the recent past, DPC held
a meeting under the Chairmanship of Maulana Samiul Haque in Islamabad to avert spread of
sectarian violence across the country. The meeting was also attended by Hafiz Muhammad
Saeed, Liaquat Baloch, Maulana Ahmad Ludhianvi, Ejazul Haque, Maulana Fazalur Rehman
Khalil, Lt Gen (R) Hamid Gul, Mian Muhammad Aslam, Abdullah Gul and Sardar Attique
Ahmad. The meeting concluded that Rawalpindi tragedy was a plot against Pakistan, and
appreciated the patience demonstrated by students of the targeted seminary in Rawalpindi. DPC
Chairman Maulana Samiul Haque lauded the role of Ulema for successfully averting the spread
of violence. He also demanded that hate-material of different religious institutions should be
Besides recommending to the Parliament to pass legislation so as to control sectarian violence,
DPC also gave a peace call to protest against the Rawalpindi incident. Its Chairman Maulana
Samiul Haque appealed to the potential protestors to remain peaceful on the Friday in the
aftermath of the Rawalpindi episode. This was a right step forward to create conducive
atmosphere for all schools of thought to mull over contemplating the need for introspective
analysis and maintaining respect for other sects.
Peaceful march on the related-Friday by the DPC proved that remaining peaceful and
demonstrating tolerance and patience towards each other’s sect is much superior option than to
react in retaliation. This also sent a message to foreign forces which have been funding sectarian
groups to fight their proxy wars inside Pakistan.
It also showed that those elements which are trying to destabilize Pakistan would also be suitably
scolded with a pledge that all Pakistanis are united and have the resolve to maintain sectarian
harmony—sectarianism poses a security threat to Pakistan and we can fight it by keeping
cohesiveness in our ranks and files.
While, it was also prudent for the organizers of that Friday peace protest including law-enforcing
agencies and the administration which ensured that peaceful march by the demonstrators was not
disturbed by violent elements and criminals. And all possible measures were taken to make the
march a peaceful, violence-free and dignified protest.
It is mentionable that in the past few years, Pakistan has been facing various kinds of subversive
activities, but foreign hostile entities have also accelerated sectarian violence as part of their
unfinished agenda to further weaken the country. Undoubtedly, the sporadic sectarian violence
against these Muslims has intensified, but, it cannot be seen in isolation as it includes multiple
anti-Pakistan designs. Notably, secret agencies like American CIA, Israeli Mossad and Indian
RAW are behind sectarian unrest in Pakistan.
In fact, the US had planned to spark a civil war between the Sunnis and Shias in wake of war on
terror. So, we cannot blame these secret agencies without solid evidence.
For the purpose, a study of the Rand Corporation, titled ‘US Strategy in the Muslim World After
9/11’ was conducted on behalf of the then US Deputy Chief of Staff for Air Force. The report
of the Rand Corporation-a leading think tank, released on December 27, 2004 advocated that
Sunni-Shia sectarian division should be exploited to promote the US objectives in the Muslim
The report of the Rand Corporation was first implemented in Iraq. In this context, CIA also got
the services of Mossad and RAW to fuel sectarian violence in Iraq. In 2004, major terror-attacks
were carried out against the Shias in Karbala and Baghdad. Afterwards, a chain of Shia-Sunni
clashes started between Iraqi Shias and Sunnis, targeting each other’s mosques, religious leaders
through bomb blasts, suicide attacks etc.
After Iraq’s experiment, more deadly pattern of sectarian strife and clashes have been conducted
in Pakistan, which still continues in one or the other way.
As a matter of fact, some banned religious outfits like Lashkar-i-Janghvi and the Sunni militant
groups, Jundollah (God’s soldiers) which have claimed responsibility for a number of terror
assaults on Shias in Balochistan get arms and ammunition from RAW and CIA. These foreign-
backed militants groups which have close connections with each other and Tehrik-i-Taliban
Pakistan are behind target-killing of many Sunni and Shia leaders, political figures of these sects,
bomb blasts, suicide attacks, assaults on the religious processions, mosques, Imambargahs etc.,
carried out in various regions of Pakistan to achieve the covert aims of the US, India and Israel.
In this respect, while hinting towards US, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei had
rightly disclosed, “The bloody actions being committed in Iraq, Pakistan and Iran are aimed at
creating a division between the Shias and Sunnis…those who carry out these terrorist actions are
directly or indirectly foreign agents.”
Nevertheless, in the aftermath of the Rawalpindi tragedy, the atmosphere presents an edgy
picture, as tension still brews among sects of different religious seminaries (Madrassas)—heads
of some Madrassas and sects which have also conducted demonstrations and rallies.
As part of solution to counter the sectarian violence in Pakistan, DPC initiative of peace must be
supported by media, civil society, key communicators and religious scholars who must play an
effective role in creating religious tolerance and enlightenment amongst all religious factions,
particularly those of Sunnis and Shias, convincing them to live in harmony and peace. They
must point out that in democratic a state, peaceful protest is a right way, but violent attacks on
places of worship and clashes against each other’s sect, and damaging the property is against the
teachings of Islam. It will help creating an atmosphere conducive for all schools of thought to
contemplate the need to remain peaceful and develop respect for others having different practices
Supporting the DPA demands, these internal entities including political parties should urge
the Parliament to pass anti-sectarian laws, while the government must also focus on creating
sectarian harmony in the country and political elements must not be allowed to muddle
negatively in religious matters.
Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants,
Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations
