The recent Shia killings in Pakistan created a lot of controversy. The TNFJ being the only Shia political party in Pakistan and a member of the MMA. Naqvi’s comments are worth a read and a sad reflection of how bad things have gotten in Pakistan.
Azam Tariq is the establishment’s blue-eyed boy…”
Mohammad Shehzad
http://www.thefridaytimes.com/_news2.htm
Allama Sajid Naqvi, chief of Pakistan Islami Tehreek
ALLAMA SAJID NAQVI IS ONE OF THE MOST influential Shia leaders in Pakistan. Born in Attock in 1940, he earned a Fazil degree from Najaf in Iraq and Qum in Iran. He was one of the founders of Tehreek-e-Nifaze Fiqh Ja’fria (TNFJ), set up in 1979 and later renamed Tehreek-Ja’fria Pakistan in 1991. He became the party’s chief in 1988 after the assassination the same year of Allama Arif Hussain al-Hussaini.
On 14 August 2001 General Pervez Musharraf banned the TJP along with other Sunni-Deobandi terrorist groups. Later, on January 12, 2002, he also banned groups generally regarded as jihadi outfits. In 2002, Naqvi was elected head of Pakistan Islami Tehreek (IT), the new reincarnation of the banned Tehreek-e-Ja’fria Pakistan. PIT is a coalition member of the Mutahidda Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), the alliance of six religious parties.
TFT spoke to Naqvi in the wake of Pakistan’s worst sectarian terrorist attack in Quetta which killed more than 50 Shia Hazara and injured over 100. Soon after the July 3 massacre, Naqvi’s office had released a press release that put the blame of the killing on Azam Tariq who had joined the pro-Musharraf party, Pakistan Muslim League-Q in lieu of the release of 18 terrorists involved in sectarian killings.
Speaking bluntly, Naqvi accused the establishment of masterminding the carnage and bitterly criticized its “divide-and-rule” policy. Naqvi believes the killing of Shia Hazara is part of a broader agenda by certain forces to destabilise Pakistan. Following are the excerpts:
The Friday Times: Is it dangerous to be a Shia in Pakistan?
Allama Sajid Naqvi: Shias were the leaders of the group that founded Pakistan. They have participated in the progress and development of this country from taking part in the wars to generating business and building a viable society. Unfortunately, the establishment never allowed democracy to flourish. Whenever the country experienced some sort of socio-political and religious awakening, the establishment considered it a threat. It anticipated a public revolution – à la Iran, for example. To crush such awakening and the threat of revolution, the state domesticated and mollycoddled certain extremist groups. Such groups sowed the seeds of Shia-Sunni violence and played holi with the blood of Shias. Shias are now bearing the brunt of this hatred. The so-called jihad in Afghanistan promoted sectarianism and gave birth to another jihad for anti-Shia groups, i.e. slaughtering of Shias. Shias were targeted because they were upwardly mobile and were leaders in various spheres of life. They were also peaceful. The extremists knew that it would be very easy to kill them since they [Shias] did not believe in retaliation. Killing of Shias was masterminded by the agencies and establishment to create a chaotic and anarchic situation so that the people could never concentrate on issues like democracy and governance.
Is it also “unfortunate” to be a Shia in India and other countries?
Shias do not face such victimisation in any other country. It was decided in the 1980 Taif Conference that Shia-Sunni differences should be provoked in Pakistan. Huge funding was provided to our state institutions. They groomed gangs of religious fanatics, brainwashed them with the philosophy of jihad against Shias and thus ignited the fire of hatred that cannot now be extinguished. It is becoming intense day by day. Every new act of sectarian terrorism is adding fuel to it. In India, Shias and Sunnis co-exist very peacefully despite intellectual differences. They must be united because they are competing with a non-Muslim majority.
To what extent, the rights of Shias are safeguarded in Pakistan?
Shias’ rights are not protected at all. They want to know what Pakistan has given them. The state institutions have utterly failed to provide them protection from the religious zealots. Shias are losing patience. They are becoming frustrated. This is a very dangerous sign. Shias can forget anything but not the blood of their martyrs.
Who do you think killed the Shia Muslims in Quetta?
A certain group was used for this massacre. Facts are being hidden. No efforts are being made to control such incidents. All this is happening under the patronage of “real powers”, the agencies. In 1996, the former chief justice of Pakistan Sajjad Ali Shah wanted to exercise his suo moto jurisdiction to find out the reasons behind sectarian terrorism. He was not allowed to exercise this right. The Quetta carnage is absolutely an act of sectarian terrorism masterminded by Pakistani agencies. To blame it on external forces is shameful.
Are you referring to Azam Tariq when you say a “certain group”?
It is obvious. He is the blue-eyed boy of the establishment. He is sitting in the government’s lap.
But Azam Tariq has promised to work for sectarian harmony…
He is the Bal Thakaray of Pakistan. His actions do not match his words. He says one thing but does the opposite.
MMA has also accused the government of masterminding the incident…
Such acts of sectarian terrorism are orchestrated to achieve several objectives. One of them was to malign the MMA. But the main objective was to provide a cover to Afghanistan. The agencies are supporting the Taliban element and to communicate to the Americans that the region is a real tinderbox.
Will the killings affect your alliance with the MMA?
No. I am committed to work for religious unity. I have told my people that this incident is not due to Shia-Sunni factor. While the MMA calls it “an act of terrorism”, I say it is an act of “religious terrorism”.
Could the Shias retaliate and kill Sunnis now?
This is not a Shia-Sunni issue. I have told you the problem. Certain powers are working to sabotage a massive awakening. The solution is, such powers should abandon this politics or the country will disintegrate. I am foreseeing a very horrible picture. People could revolt against the state and we might have a repeat of 1971. I am trying to save the country. Our people have kept their cool and prayed for the integrity of Pakistan. I have been urging my people to be patient.
Just before the Quetta carnage, a lot of anti-Shia literature was distributed. Who distributes such material?
The same groups that are used by the establishment. The same person who sits in the lap of the government. Such material has been distributed in an immeasurable quantity in every street of Pakistan. So, we have to face the consequences.
What is the solution?
I really do not have the solution. We are at the receiving end. We do not have the power to fight with the state but we are resisting its shenanigans and mischief in our limited capacity. I am not sure whether I will succeed.
What is your strategy?
I will talk to these forces and urge them to abandon the politics of destruction. These forces do not want the people of Pakistan to focus on those decisions that are likely to change the destiny of Pakistan.
What decisions?
These decisions are in front of you—democracy, justice, judiciary, social and economic justice, our nuclear assets, Kashmir, Israel, etc. Perhaps, the agenda of these forces is the disintegration of Pakistan. Now these forces want to send the army to Iraq. You know that the majority of people in Iraq are Shia. If a Sunni army officer is killed in retaliation, then Pakistan could come into the grip of sectarian violence.
Do you find the Musharraf era better than Zia-ul-Haq?
It is equally bad. Shias are still the victim of Establishment’s atrocities. Musharraf made tall claims but it was mere rhetoric. He said he will root out terrorism. But the accused of Iranian cadets killed in Karachi were acquitted. The accused that murdered my relatives were recently acquitted. The culprits of Mominpura massacre are still at large. The murderer of Aun Mohammad Rizvi has been sentenced to death but I am sure the apex court will acquit him. Who is the ruler in this country? Is there any court of law in this country? Since 1985, around 3,000 Shia Muslims have been killed. Has any culprit been punished? Those who are the murderers are also the ones who dispense the so-called justice.