[Reader-list] (PERSONAL) Re: SOS from Pakistan - Save Pakistani Shias

[Kshmendra Kaul]

intriguing smile..... kya majraa hai?

--- On Tue, 3/10/09, yasir ~يا سر <yasir.media at gmail.com> wrote:

From: yasir ~يا سر <yasir.media at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Reader-list] SOS from Pakistan - Save Pakistani Shias
To: "sarai list" <reader-list at sarai.net>
Date: Tuesday, March 10, 2009, 4:56 AM

  :)


On Fri, Mar 6, 2009 at 1:01 PM, Pawan Durani <pawan.durani at gmail.com>
wrote:
> 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,
> _________________________________________
> reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city.
> Critiques & Collaborations
> To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with
subscribe in the subject header.
> To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list
> List archive: &lt;https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/>
_________________________________________
reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city.
Critiques & Collaborations
To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with subscribe in
the subject header.
To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list 
List archive: &lt;https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/>