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| Atrocities on Shias of Gilgit-Baltistan fail to move Kashmiri leaders | | Sectarian Approach - II | |
RUSTAM
JAMMU, Apr 22: As mentioned, the Gilgit-Baltistan region witnessed several sectarian clashes between the powerful Sunnis and hapless and abandoned Shiite Muslims this month, which left nearly 400 Shiite Muslims dead. These sectarian killings evoked a very strong reaction not only in Gilgit-Baltistan but also in the Shia-dominated Kargil district. On April 9, a protest rally was held in Kargil against the targeted killings in Gilgit-Baltistan and local Shia leaders appealed to the Government of India to "take up the issue with the international community". On April 14, on the call given by Anjuman-e-Jamiyatul Ulima Asna Ashriya (Islamia School Kargil), Kargil observed a complete shutdown. All the shops and business establishments remained closed that day and the Shias of the area expressed solidarity with the people of Gilgit Baltistan. People from several villages carrying black flags assembled at Islamia School and raised anti-Pakistan and anti-Gilgit Baltistan Governments slogans.
Addressing the outraged Shiite Muslims, their leadership condemned the targeted killings. They also blasted the Government of Pakistan and the local government for their utter failure to maintain law and order in the region and demanded stringent action against those involved in the sectarian killings. In fact, they threatened a nationwide protest if justice was not done. They claimed that hundreds of people were murdered in cold blood in Parachinar, Hangu, Quetta and Gilgit- Baltistan, while the authorities watched the barbarities being perpetrated by the Sunnis on them as mute spectators. They made it loud and clear that the Shias would defeat all the attempts aimed at eliminating their community in the northern areas. Speaking on behalf of Islamia School Kargil, the Nayim Imam Jumma, Hujattul Islam Sheikh Hussain Mukaddas not only urged the Government of India to raise this issue on international forum on behalf of the people of Kargil, but also appealed to the President of India to take up the issue with the Government of Pakistan so that the Shiite Muslims were protected.
In between, Lahore also witnessed a massive protest against the atrocities committed by the fanatics on the Shiite Muslims. It was on April 10 that "hundreds of Shia Muslims" organized a protest demonstration in front of the Lahore Press Club and urged the media to pressurize the Pakistani government to "stop the atrocities on its community in Gilgit-Baltistan" and bring the situation in the region under control by reining in the fanatics, all backed to the hilt by the Pakistani establishment.
Did the massacre of Shiite Muslims move any of the Kashmiri leaders? No. The NC leadership, which always talks of confidence building measures, peace, secularism, democracy and human rights, has till date not uttered a word against what has been happening in Gilgit-Baltistan. The CPI-M, the APHC (M), the APHC (G), the JKLF and similar other outfits in Kashmir, which, like the NC, consistently talk about human rights and peaceful co-existence, have also not expressed themselves even once against the atrocities which are being committed by members of other religious sect. These are Sunni-controlled and Sunni-dominated outfits. The Jammu-based and Kashmir-based human rights activists have also thought it prudent to keep their mouth shut. The Kashmir-based and a section of the Jammu-based media have also not written a single word against what has been happening in Gilgit-Baltistan. Ironically, the Government of India has also not reacted till date.
Why this sectarian approach? The answer is very simple. The answer is that the Kashmiri leadership, like the Pakistani leadership, doesn't consider Shiite Muslims as true Muslims. One can understand the negative attitude of the Kashmiri leadership towards the Shiite Muslims. But one fails to understand why New Delhi has thought it proper to ignore the appeals as made by the Shiite Muslims of Kargil. Why is New Delhi not acting? (Concluded) |
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