Citizens International strongly condemns the current increasing sectarianism between Sunnis and Shiah adherents in Pakistan. This development in Pakistan can be traced to the evolving conflict in Aleppo, Syria where Shiah led Government by Bashar Assad are leading a massive military campaign to oust Sunni militants.
CI received specific reports indicating Sunni extreme rightist in Pakistan led by Islami Jamiat Talaba and Lashkar Jhangvi Al- Almi are propagating viral hate messages through social media urging Sunni followers to either attack or kill Shiah’s adherents in the Pakistan region of Parachinar, Gilgat, and Quetta.
Notwithstanding the situation in Syria, Citizens International believes there is a need to reflect the issue constructively by every individual and group to avoid senseless bloodshed amongst Muslims in Pakistan.
In a similar vein, Citizens International is urging the Pakistan Government to monitor and ensure that this dangerous development does not escalate and lead to unnecessary killings of men, women and children by extreme Sunni rightist pertinently in the abovementioned region.
The Pakistan Government bears the responsibility to protect its citizens despite differences in religion and denomination of the latter.
S.M Mohamed Idris
Chairman
22 December 2016
