Sectarian killing is in the rise in the country

Despite tall claims of the government, sectarian or targeted killings are becoming widespread in different parts of the country, particularly Quetta, Gilgit-Baltistan and Karachi.

An especial factor of such incidents is going on in Karachi where people of difference school of thoughts are being killed, particularly Shia and Sunni.

In the past, military rulers promoted militants outfits in pursuit of their ill-conceived strategies. However, they have been on the rampage for past few years.

Although Interior Minister Rehman Malik made several promises, apparently the civilian government has been failed to rein them in because of its wrong priorities and incompetence.

We observed weakens one’s confidence in the efficiency of the state machinery. There was no respite to sectarian attacks despite improved vigilance.

The recent incidents of sectarian nature seem replication of the sectarian bloodletting of the 1990s. It seems there is no check on this horrific trend in the country, indicating that militants belonging to their respective sects are engaged in tit-for-tat killings, intent on killing several generations of a family.

Apart from muted concern coming from political quarters and law enforcement agencies, the religious scholars are also remained silent over the issue.

Such a response by the security forces to the steady stream of killings has been highly unacceptable. There was no investigation carried out in the rash of killings of family members and bringing the killers to justice.

The law enforcement agencies, particularly police, should actively investigate such incidents, which are part of a pattern. Sectarian killings shouldn’t be considered as normal criminal business.

Moreover, the religious leaders, who show agitation over a variety of issues, should come out and speak against such brutal acts.

The recently reactivated Milli Yakjehti Council, which features representatives from all the major Islamic factions in Pakistan, has said it wants to counter sectarianism.

It should organize a meeting where the religious establishment clearly and unequivocally condemns such sectarian murders as a first step.

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Posted by Faisal Farooq on Oct 27 2012. Filed under Opinion, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.