NOVANEWS
Sajjad Shaukat
Although terror-related sectarian incidents have continued in Pakistan’s various regions in the
past few years, yet as soon as the month of Muharram approaches, shadows of sectarian violence
In the last week of Muharram, in Novemeber 2012, several people had been killed and injured in
suicide attacks and bomb blasts. Despite the tight security measures, a bomb attack on a
procession killed five mourners in Dera Ismail Khan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on
November 25, as Shias marked their holiest day Ashura. On day ago, a remote-controlled bomb
killed eight people near a Shia procession in the same city. Earlier, 22 people were killed and
several injured in Rawalpindi on November 21 when a suicide bomber targeted a Muharram
gathering near Imambargah. This terror-event came hours after two bomb blasts occurred in
Karachi near Imambargah, which killed three people.
Besides some sectarian events and assaults like targeting killings which took place during the
month of Muharram, on November 15, 2013, sectarian violence between Shia mourners and
Sunnis in Rawalpindi left 10 dead. Angry protesters targeted the mosque and the seminary,
torching its building. Very soon, the incident enveloped other cities of the country where violent
demonstrations and bloody clashes between the two religious sects took place, which also caused
some deaths. Curfew was imposed and Army was called to restore peace not only in Rawalpindi,
but also in other affected-cities.
In that regard, several Ulema (Religious scholars), religious leaders and politicians belonging to
various sects said, “Conspiracies were being hatched to destroy peace in the country through
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.
It is mentionable that sporadic sectarian violence against the Muslims 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 global
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.
Now, these foreign-backed entities have made Pakistan to wage proxy war of Saudi Arabia and
Iran, while these hostile elements are also manipulating sectarian differences between Riyadh
and Tehran—also noted in Syria and Yemen which have been destabilized due to civil wars.
In this context, 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.”
However, various measures should be taken in countering the sectarian violence in Pakistan,
especially in the month of Muharram. In this connection, the right hour has come that religious
clerics, political and religious parties including media persons and the intellectuals 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 violent attacks on places of worship and clashes against each other’s sect, and
damaging the property is against the teachings of Islam.
In order to tackle the sectarian divide, forbearance, self control and tolerance must be preached
by all segments of society, and especially media must educate the people to adopt the principle
of mutual co-existence, while religious clerics must come forward to impress upon the audience
to remain cool and promote cohesion and brotherhood among different religious groups.
At the same time, sectarian vulnerability should not be allowed to create ferocity, unrest and
disorder in the country. This entails application of stringent measures and harsh control over
sectarian groups to avoid conflicts and spread of religious hatred.
Nonetheless, the month of Muharram is equally respectable for Sunnis, Shias and all other sects
of Islam. Particularly, religious scholars must play active role in discouraging sectarian issues.
Islam and all other recognized religions always denounce reckless killing and acts of violence in
the name of religion; therefore, we must refrain from speaking against religious personalities
who are respected by people of different sects. The government must take strict security
measures for Muharram Majalises (Religious ceremonial sittings) and processions and organizers
of such events must cooperate with the administration.
