[Reader-list] SOS from Pakistan - Save Pakistani Shias

[Pawan Durani]

Pls check the petition

http://www.petitiononline.com/ShiaSOS/petition.html


To:  Governments of Pakistan, USA, UK, China, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia,
Iran, UNESCO, UN Human Rights Council, UN Security Council, OIC, European
Union, Amnesty International, HRCP, Human Rights Watch, ICG


Aim

The aim of this petition is to draw the world's attention to the plight of
minority Shia Muslims in Pakistan. Hundreds of Shias have been killed in the
last one year alone in various acts of terrorism by the Taliban, Al Qaeda,
Sipah-e-Sahaba, and other sectarian and jihadi groups in Pakistan.


Background

Shia population in Pakistan

Islam is the state religion of Pakistan with Sunni Muslims forming the
majority of the population (Europa 2008 2008, 3498; US 19 Sept. 2008).
According to the United States (US) Department of State's International
Religious Freedom Report 2008, the Shia minority is roughly 10 to 20 percent
of the population (US 19 Sept. 2008, Sec. 1; see also ibid. 6 Nov. 2008)
whereas Sunnis are estimated to be constituting 70 to 85 percent of the
population.


The treatment of Shias

According to the US Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights
Practices for 2007, Shia Muslims in Pakistan "faced discrimination and
societal violence" (US 11 Mar. 2008, Sec. 5). Country Reports 2007 further
states that Shia Muslims "were the targets of religious violence" (ibid. 11
Mar. 2008, Sec. 2.c). The International Religious Freedom Report 2008
indicates that some Sunni Muslim groups have published literature calling
for violence against Shia Muslims (US 19 Sept. 2008, Sec. 3). Freedom House
states that Shia Muslims (along with Christians and Ahmadis) are targeted by
extremist groups in Pakistan (2008). Country Reports 2007 states that the
"[p]olice often failed to protect members of religious minorities –
particularly ... Shias – from societal attacks" (US 11 Mar. 2008, Sec. 1.d).


Source: UNHCR Report PAK102973.E: The treatment of Shias in Pakistan (2006 -
November 2008)
http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/publisher,IRBC,,,49913b5e59,0.html


An account of recent Shia killings in Pakistan (from 1 Jan to 20 Feb 2009)

Note: This is only a brief glimpse of systematic and continuous killings of
Shia in Pakistan in the last few weeks. For a detailed account of the Shia
genocide in the last many years in Pakistan, visit:
http://www.shaheedfoundation.org/home.asp

1. On 20 February 2009, a suicide bomber killed at least 32 Shias and
injured another 157 who were attending the funeral of an already murdered
Shia leader in the southern district of D.I. Khan (Dera Ismail Khan) in the
NWFP. Previously on 21 November 2008, 6 Shia were killed and 25 more
received severe injuries when a powerful bomb ripped through the funeral
procession of a slain Shia leader who was shot the previous night.

2. On 19 February 2009, six Shia were killed in Parachinar when Taliban
terrorists opened indiscriminate fire on them at mid-day. They had gone to
collect wood from local forest. It may be noted that the Shia are under
siege in Parachinar for the past many years. The massacres of hundreds of
Shias in Kurram Agency in 2007 and 2008 saw regular trickles of Shias
migration. (Over the years, cities like Thal, Hangu and Kohat have developed
significant pockets of migrant Shia population. All this area is also the
target of the Afghan refugees who have leaked out of the Afghan refugee
camps and don’t plan on going home because becoming a part of the Al Qaeda
fighting machine is more lucrative. They take the identity of Taliban and do
a lot of Shia-killing on the side. An informally named ghetto, Shiagarh, is
an obvious target, located just 10 miles from Kohat going to the city of
Hangu.)

3. On 19 February 2009, a Shia man, Qurban Ali, was killed and another Sabir
sustained injuries when terrorists opened fire on their van in the Gilgit
area.

4. On 10 February 2009, Mualana Syed Shabeer Hussain Shah was killed near
Qureshi Maur; he was a prayer leader at Masjid-e-Kotla-Qaim Shah in D.I.
Khan. He was 45 years old.

5. On 9 February 2009, Sardar Ali Baba, 45, was killed in Peshawar. He was
the bread-winner of the family and used to run medicines' business. He is
survived by four mourning children.

6. On 5 February 2009, at least 35 Shia were killed and more than 50 injured
in a suicide attack on a Shia gathering in D.G. Khan.

7. On 3 February 2009, Syed Iqbal Haider Zaidi was killed when terrorists
attacked him near Dabal Road, Quetta. He worked in a Wood factory to earn
livelihood.

8. On 2 February 2009, Syed Munawar Kazmi of Shia Dialogue Committee was
shot in D.I. Khan.

9. On 27 January 2009, Syed Ather Shah was killed by terrorists on Dial Road
outside of his home in D.I. Khan. Syed aged 40 years was the caretaker of
Imambargah Faqir Shah Muhallah Totaan Walla. Previously on 18 January,
another Shia, Ali Abbas was killed in the same city.

10. On 26 January 2009, Hussain Ali Yousufi president of Hazara Democratic
Party was killed in firing by terrorist in today morning at Jinnah Road
Quetta. The killing of Shia notables in Quetta, particularly those belonging
to Hazara community, has sadly become a frequent occurrence. Some of the
killings have been owned by Lashkar-e-Jhangavi, a sister organization of
Pakistani Taliban. The number of the Shia community members killed there
over the recent years has exceeded 300. Besides religious figures, liberal
politicians, businessmen and government officials have been targeted.

11. On 14 January 2009, 3 Shia Police officials named DSP Hassan Ali,
Mohammad Baqir and Sifwatullah were killed in Quetta, four were injured.
They were going to Police Training Centre Quetta at Saryab Road at 10: 30 AM
(PST) when terrorists sprayed fires upon them. All killed and two of injured
belong from Shia Community. Four days ago president of Shia Conference was
also targeted in Sibi (Baluchistan). On 8th June 2003 12 Shia cadets were
also killed on Sariab Road Quetta.

12. On January 2009 in Hangu,17 Shia Muslims were killed and more than 35
injured. Taliban terrorists attacked with heavy weapons on Shia populated
areas of Hungo City like; Ali Abad town, Muhallah Ganjanokalay, Muhallah
Sangerh and Muhallah Paskaley.

13. On 10 Jan 2009, 4 Shia were killed and another 10 are injured when
Taliban attacked the Shia converged for Ashura Procession in Hangu.


In Summary

1. There is an ongoing, systematic killing of Shias in all areas in
Pakistan, particularly in Kurram Agency, Kohat, Hangu, D.I. Khan and Quetta,
and also in other areas.

2. Taliban have openly claimed responsibility for attacks on Shia gatherings
in Pakistan. They are supported by their sister organizations such as
Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan, Lashkar-e-Jhangavi and other jihadi and sectarian
organizations.

3. Looming large over all sectarian violence in Pakistan in recent times are
various Taliban/jihadi figures, such as that of Qari Hussain, a militant
commander based in South Waziristan, who is also known by the nom de guerre
Ustad-i-Fidayeen (teacher of suicide bombers). Qari Hussain is believed to
be a recruiter and trainer of suicide bombers and has infused his ideology
with a virulent stream of anti-Shia sectarianism. This is an approach
similar to the one adopted by Abu Musab Al Zarqawi in Iraq.

4. Since the ISI is involved in promoting and protecting jihadi outfits such
as Taliban, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and other jihadi and sectarian organization,
the ISI's willingness to curb and eliminate acts of sectarian terror is
seriously compromised or is doubtful.

5. The government's failure to track down the culprits has emboldened the
perpetrators to kill with impunity. The situation has understandably enraged
Shias in Pakistan. The Shia community is exasperated with the government's
inability to perform one of its basic functions, that of ensuring that the
lives of the people are protected. They are tired of hearing trite
repetitions of promises by the Pakistan Government to 'find' the culprits
and give them 'exemplary punishment'.

6. While the government has failed, the opposition's and media's role in
Pakistan is no less pathetic. Some of them are clearly sympathetic to the
Taliban, justifying their acts of terror, despite the fact that the Taliban
have openly claimed responsibility of scores of Shia killings in Pakistan.

7. The world at large has paid little attention to the plight of Shia
Muslims in Pakistan. The number of Shias killed in Pakistan in the last one
year alone is much larger than the total number of Palestinians killed in
the recent Gaza war. Yet, there is little international attention to the
plight of Pakistani Shias.

8. The Sunni population also fears that unhindered killings of the Shias
might cause sectarian strife in an area where the sects have generally
coexisted peacefully for centuries. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan
has expressed its concern that the state agencies' consistent failure to
track down the killers may prompt the Shia to retaliate against members of
other sects, which is perhaps the sort of violence those behind the
target-killings want to trigger. Source:
http://www.hrcp-web.org/hrcpDetail_2.cfm?catId=180&catName=Press%20Releases


The Petition

According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, the recent string of
target-killing of Shias in Pakistan and the government's failure to bring
any of the perpetrators to justice is a cause for growing alarm.

We, the citizens of Pakistan, of all religious affiliations (including Sunni
and Shia Muslims, Ahmadis, Christians, Hindus and others) are extremely sad
and concerned about the ongoing, systematic killing of Shias in various
parts of Pakistan. We urge you to take immediate action to stop killing of
innocent Shia in Pakistan, particularly in Parachinar, D.I. Khan, Kohat,
Hangu, Quetta and other areas affected by violence against Shia.

We believe that the Shia killing is not an act of sectarian violence by
Sunnis. In fact, these acts of terror are being perpetrated by a handful of
extremist Deobandis and Wahhabis (Salafis) who are currently operating under
different names, such as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Sipah-e-Sahaba
Pakistan (SSP), Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) and other jihadi and sectarian
organisations.

We also believe that Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) is
responsible for engineering, planning and facilitating these acts of terror
in order to execute and expand its jihadi agenda, and to implement a plan to
convert Pakistan into a puritanical Wahhabi state.

The sad and gory events of Shia massacres in Quetta, D. I. Khan, D. G. Khan,
Parachinar, Hangu and other areas in Pakistan in the last few weeks should
have acted as awakeners for the Pakistan Government - especially for those
sections of it directly responsible for protecting lives of the people (i.e.
Police, ISI and the Army). They have failed to fulfil their duty to protect
the lives of citizens who, in the words of the newspaper 'Dawn', are the
continued targets of "a one-sided massacre of unwary mourners."

However, given that the current civilian government in Pakistan has little
power over the ISI and its unholy alliance with the jihadi/sectarian
organisations, we urge that external and internal stakeholders in Pakistan
(e.g., the UN, USA, UK, Saudi Arabia, China, Iran, Afghanistan) will be able
to influence the military leadership in Pakistan to reconsider their policy
of abetting and protecting jihadi and sectarian terrorists.

If, however, Government of Pakistan is serious about taking steps to control
and reverse the menace of target killing of Shias, here are some steps for
immediate implementation.

We demand that:

• Government must constitute a permanent, high-power Anti-Sectarianism
Commission in Pakistan, comprising the Chief of Army Staff, Chief of the
ISI, a judge of the Supreme Court, federal minister of religious affairs,
representatives of Shia, Deobandi, Barelvi, Salafi communities as well as
members of minority communities. The Commission must meet at least once
every three months to monitor the state of sectarian violence in Pakistan
and deliberate on the progress to curb sectarian terrorism.

• Local commandants of the ISI as well as local DIG/SP of Police must be
held responsible for any act of sectarian terror which takes place their
respective areas of jurisdiction. If they are unable to stop acts of terror
or to arrest terrorists involved, the ISI and Police officials must be
dismissed from their duties, arrested and tried for their negligence or
complicity in the acts of terror.

• Terrorists involved in acts of violence and those supporting them within
the military and civil establishment must be arrested and tried immediately
in anti-terrorist courts (ATCs). Bring people responsible and behind these
killing to justices; punish them to maximum limit – the maximum time between
arrest and sentence must not be more than three months. All of those
involved in encouraging or executing sectarian violence must be punished
with death sentence because there are instances in which these terrorists
either managed to flee the prison by bribing the jail authorities or by
harassing the judges through the ISI or Taliban.

• The arch-terrorists of Taliban, Sipah-e-Sahaba and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi who
are already under arrest, e.g., Akram Lahori, Malik Ishaque and Hafiz
Shahid, all of whom have accepted killing Shia Muslims, shown no remorse,
and promised 'more of the same' if they get the opportunity, should be
publicly hanged forthwith as per sentences already handed down by ATCs. This
will act as a strong deterrent to prospective travellers of this short-cut
to heaven.

• The mullahs who advocate 'takfeer' of Shia Muslims (i.e. declaring Shias
as non-Muslims; creating sectarian hatred) be jailed immediately and tried
in anti-terrorism courts, and barred from holding membership of parliament
or legislatures. Sitting members of assemblies and other famous 'scholars'
who have published the fatwa of takfeer of Shia Muslims include Maulana
Samiul Haq, Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, Maulana Abdul Ghafoor, Maulana Maula
Bakhsh, Maulana Muhammad Ayub Khan Binori and others.

• The madrassahs in which Shias are portrayed as Kafir (non-Muslim) or which
promote sectarian hatred against Shias must be immediately closed down, and
their leaders arrested.

• Defeating the hydra of militancy does require different tactics at the
local level, but there must be overall strategic coherency too. Currently,
Pakistan is fighting the militants piecemeal in different areas of the
country. That must change; the militants must be pursued across the length
and breadth of the country simultaneously. There must be no dialogue with
sectarian terrorists; they deserve no mercy.

• Compensate Shia Muslims affected during sectarian attacks financially; Rs.
1 million compensation per Shia death must be paid to the family of each
Shia killed; Rs. 5 lac per person should be paid as compensation to those
injured. Other loss of property must be totally compensated.

• Provide security and support to Shia not only through adequate police
security but also by providing Shia mosques and imambargahs with latest
scanners, anti-bomb equipment and anti-terrorism training so that Shias
could secure themselves from any future attacks.

• STOP SHIA KILLINGS in Pakistan.


Sincerely,
The Undersigned

Sincerely,