SECTARIANISM

Pakistan occupants and their agents started sectarianism in Balawaristan after the incident of Jail breaking in Gilgit in 1971, under the policy of "Divide and rule". The occupants got the services of a professional agent, who has also served as Tehsildar of Ganchhe district. He delivered a vulgar speech from Jamia Masjid of Shias in Gilgit against the Sooni sect. Later, Pakistan used a prominent Maulvi Chiragh - ud - Din of Lahore(Pakistan) to provoke Shias. Apart from this, the Gilgit based representatives of Pakistan blessed a Shia Syed and a Sooni Khatib, with Pakistani currency to make them to continue to speak something on loud speakers against one another. Sooni Muslims were told that Shia Muslims while taking out Muharram procession, passed in front of your mosque which is a desecration of the mosque.

They should stop this procession the Government(meaning the Pakistani occupants) will cooperate with them, while the Shias were told to take out a procession on the traditional route and they were assured to full support in case of any trouble from other side. In support of this fact, a detailed interview of a local religious scholar, who always advises the nation to avoid sectarianism, is still in fact with me. In this way Pakistani occupants, under the policy of divide and rule, constructed a big building of sectarianism over the foundation laid by Pakistani Tehsildar Sardar Alam and Gen. Zia-ul-Haq, who deployed Afghan and other terrorists, and got hundreds of local youths killed, for creating a permanent rift between the two sects. Despite promises, no compensation was paid to the local Sooni sect in the 1988 genocide.

Sectarian violence continued in the region. Several Pathans and Pakistani forces personnel were arrested while hurting the religious sentiments of both sects by wall chalking on the spot. But they were released from the local police station and sent to their homes with protection by Pakistani occupants. After killing Shia labourers in Dulnati, by the Pakistan forces in order to stage the drama of reaction, killed several Sooni Muslims in Jotial, Gilgit. The posters of BNF are stern evidence of the fact that whenever a programme was scheduled to restore law and order and create unity between the two sects, the Occupants created sectarian tension intentionally. On April 9th, 1993, when Sectarianism was at its peak, a conference of all political, religious and nationalist parties of Balawaristan was organised by BNF.

The conference was also being attended by the extremist of both sects, so the local administration was requested for security. The police was at a venue near the conference, but the police was withdrawn deliberately while the conference was going on. The intention of occupying forces was quite clear. It wanted to see the murder of rival groups, but it was not so. The conference concluded in a peaceful and cordial atmosphere. Every body expressed unhappiness, in one voice, against the Pakistani occupation on them since 16th November, 1947. The role of ISI in sectarian violence in Balawaristan is quite visible. Apart from this, Judicial system imposed in the name of Judicial Commissioner or Chief court, also encourages those who indulge in sectarian violence.

Local police, working under a Pathan Chief, has adopted the policy of greasing his palm by drugs, arms and precious bird smuggling. The sectarian culprits are never punished by the court, working on the contract basis. The occupants want that tension may prevail and people remain entangled in problems. But the people of the region have awakened now and seen through the tactics of Pakistani occupants and ISI. It is the responsibility of religious leaders (Ulma) and youths of both the sects to control their persons, for maintaining brotherhood and harmony in the region. The nefarious designs of the outsiders should be thwarted otherwise they would enslave the coming generations of the region forever.

It may be noted that when a local, irrespective of any sect is killed, the occupants express happiness instead of taking any action. But on the contrary when a Pathan or non-local is killed or wounded the entire administration is put on high alert.