The Pakistan government should urgently act to protect the minority Shia Muslim community in the country from sectarian attacks by militant groups, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Thursday. The government should hold accountable those responsible for ordering and participating in deadly attacks targeting Shias.
HRW said while sectarian violence is a longstanding problem in the country, attacks against ordinary Shias had increased dramatically in the recent years.
In 2012, at least 320 Shias had been killed in targeted attacks. Over 100 have been killed in Balochistan, the majority from the Hazara community. “Deadly attacks on Shias across Pakistan are escalating,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at HRW. “The government’s persistent failure to apprehend attackers or prosecute the extremist groups organizing the attacks suggests that it is indifferent to this carnage.”
HRW said attacks targeting Shias had taken place repeatedly over the last year in Balochistan, Karachi, predominantly Shia populated areas of Gilgit-Baltistan in the northern areas and in the Tribal Areas. The watchdog said Sunni militant groups such as the ostensibly banned Lashkar-e Jhangvi had operated with widespread impunity across Pakistan while law enforcement officials effectively turning a blind eye to the attacks against Shias. “Some Sunni extremist groups are known to be allies of the Pakistani military, its intelligence agencies, and affiliated paramilitaries, such as the Frontier Corps,” HRW said. It said while authorities claim to have arrested dozens of suspects in attacks against Shias since 2008, only a handful have been charged, and no one has been held accountable for these attacks.
“The August 31 arrest of Malik Ishaq, the leader of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, in Lahore in a case filed against him for inciting violence against the Shia community on August 9 is an important development, coming after repeated failed attempts to bring him to justice,” HRW said.
“The arrest of Malik Ishaq, who has been implicated in dozens of killings, is an important test for Pakistan’s criminal justice system,” Adams said. “Sectarian violence won’t end until those responsible are brought to trial and justice.” HRW urged the federal government and relevant provincial governments to make all possible efforts to promptly apprehend and prosecute those responsible for recent attacks and other crimes targeting Shias. “Pakistan’s government cannot play the role of unconcerned bystander as Shias across Pakistan are slaughtered,” Adams said.