Time has gone by yet they live in memories vividly but pain abruptly erupts, cuts the heart, overshadows reminiscences, and leaves behind dashed hopes as security is diminished, justice is enslaved and terror is at large.
20 September was the third anniversary of “Mastung Massacre” when 10 men of notorious Lashkar-e-Jhangvi on two vehicles, armed with rocket launchers and Kalashnikovs assault rifles stopped a passenger bus, carrying 45 pilgrims in the Ganjidori area of Mastung, Shia Hazaras were identified and asked to step out. They were lined up and the assailants started shooting non-stop for ten minutes, which left 26 dead at the end of the day.
Before then, the country had been a house of horror for Shia Muslims community and since then the community has been enduring times of hell.
Several deadly attacks have been unleashed amid at causing maximum deaths, serious bodily harm and inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about the physical destruction of the community ― in other words, ‘genociding of the community in part.’
Following the carnage in Mastung, the community was ravage in Khanpur, Chilas, Orakzai, Naran, Parachinar and Mastung again when hundreds of people were slain in bomb and suicide attacks besides the targeted killings in other parts of the country. Over six hundred Shia Muslims lost their lives in the attacks. The callous campaign stride into 2013 with wreaking havoc on Quetta, Hangu, Peshawar, Parachinar and Karachi, even the neighborhoods, where sense security prevails, were devastated. Nearly seven hundred people were slaughtered and more than one thousands were injured.
From 2008 to 2013, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) was in the driving seat in the provinces of Baluchistan and Sindh which witnessed the most heinous attacks resulting in huge number of fatalities comparatively. After May 2013 election, Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) replaced PPP in center and Baluchistan nonetheless PPP was able to hold on in Sindh.
In 2014, the terror continues to rage as over two hundreds have already been the victims of targeted killings including the bankers, professors, shopkeepers, scholars and doctors mainly in Karachi ― the capital of Sindh.
While the terror is on rampage, people shouldering the security responsibility opted to play “blame-game.”
Former Interior Minister and PPP Senator Rehman Malik claimed, “a third power is behind the sectarian persecution” while addressing a press conference on the occasion of condoling the targeted killing of Ali Akbar Kumaili ― the son of former Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) senator Allama Abbas Kumaili.
Concurrently, the claim was refuted by the deceased father. Allama said, “His son was attacked three times before and law enforcement agencies were aware of perpetrators and their sanctuaries but they did nothing. “Performance of PPP lead Sindh Government is dismal,” he added.
Fanning the confusion, Indus Rangers alleged Mutahida Qomi Movement (MQM), a secular and the biggest political party in Karachi, to be the architect of targeted killings.
“The hands-off policy regarding certain hard-line seminaries undermines the efforts to control religious militancy.” “There’s no search of such seminaries and militants know they can take shelter and keep weapons there,” Police believe.
Admitting the abysmal law and order situation, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon shifted the blame-ball on non-functionality of anti-terrorism courts. He told that five anti-terrorism courts were set up during the ongoing targeted crackdown against the criminal elements in Karachi, yet it produced no results He linked the success of operation clean-up to the functionality of courts.
While the ball is being rolled here and there, ones with vast powers and responsible for setting the policy, clearing ambiguity, leading from front, the chief executive of the country and province Main Muhammad Nawaz Shareef and Syed Qaim Ali Shah are indifferent to Shia Genocide or occasionally uttering rhetoric but never bother about compensating the victims, let aside acting to take on the faith-based militancy.
As the apathy is the earmark of rulers, with dashed hopes Shia Muslims live in terror: apart from massive attacks, systematic targeted killings, threatening letters are sent at homes and slips with a bullet are dropped on vehicles, text messages are hurled intimidating Shia Muslims that you are “the next target.”
By: Syed Ali Hyder
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