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| Pakistan's Shia Muslims on alert after Taliban double bombing | Pakistan's Shia Muslims on alert after Taliban double bombing |
| (4 months later) | |
| Although sectarian fanatics in Pakistan have long targeted Shia Muslims during the holy month of Muharram, Ashgar Naqvi had no particular reason to be fearful on Wednesday night as he attended a procession in Rawalpindi. | Although sectarian fanatics in Pakistan have long targeted Shia Muslims during the holy month of Muharram, Ashgar Naqvi had no particular reason to be fearful on Wednesday night as he attended a procession in Rawalpindi. |
| "This procession happens every year," said the 32 year old. "It's been going on for 40 years with no mishap." | "This procession happens every year," said the 32 year old. "It's been going on for 40 years with no mishap." |
| But this year the Taliban decided to widen their war against Shias. | But this year the Taliban decided to widen their war against Shias. |
| At around 11.20pm a Taliban suicide bomber moved towards the crowd gathered near an Imambargah prayer hall, where worshippers were singing songs mourning the death of a grandson of Prophet Muhammad. | At around 11.20pm a Taliban suicide bomber moved towards the crowd gathered near an Imambargah prayer hall, where worshippers were singing songs mourning the death of a grandson of Prophet Muhammad. |
| "He was stopped by a guard who wanted to search him and he blew himself up," said Naqvi, who recalled a horrific scene of body parts and terrified worshippers. "People were rushing around, calling out the names of loved ones." | "He was stopped by a guard who wanted to search him and he blew himself up," said Naqvi, who recalled a horrific scene of body parts and terrified worshippers. "People were rushing around, calling out the names of loved ones." |
| The attack, which killed 23 people and wounded 60, came just hours after another bombing in Karachi. | The attack, which killed 23 people and wounded 60, came just hours after another bombing in Karachi. |
| Although the port city has borne the brunt of such sectarian attacks over the years this assault was a particularly vicious double bombing, possibly designed to kill and injure rescuers. | Although the port city has borne the brunt of such sectarian attacks over the years this assault was a particularly vicious double bombing, possibly designed to kill and injure rescuers. |
| Adding to growing national alarm, some Shias received a text message yesterday, reading "Kill, Kill, Shias". | Adding to growing national alarm, some Shias received a text message yesterday, reading "Kill, Kill, Shias". |
| Experts say the long-standing problem of sectarianism is getting worse, with authorities unable – or some fear unwilling – to stop it. | Experts say the long-standing problem of sectarianism is getting worse, with authorities unable – or some fear unwilling – to stop it. |
| This year the violence has begun well before the most sensitive day of all, Ashura, which falls on Saturday. | This year the violence has begun well before the most sensitive day of all, Ashura, which falls on Saturday. |
| "Targeting a city like Rawalpindi in this way is quite unique," said Muhammad Amir Rana, director of the Pak Institute for Peace Studies. "They are trying to destabilise the state and send a message to the public that this government is incapable." | "Targeting a city like Rawalpindi in this way is quite unique," said Muhammad Amir Rana, director of the Pak Institute for Peace Studies. "They are trying to destabilise the state and send a message to the public that this government is incapable." |
| According to some estimates up to 20% of Pakistanis, including the country's revered founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah, are Shias. | According to some estimates up to 20% of Pakistanis, including the country's revered founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah, are Shias. |
| But on Thursday a Taliban spokesperson told the Associated Press that the movement would remain at war with a religious minority they consider "blasphemers". | But on Thursday a Taliban spokesperson told the Associated Press that the movement would remain at war with a religious minority they consider "blasphemers". |
| "We will continue attacking them," he said. | "We will continue attacking them," he said. |
| In the last year the attacks have spread into areas that were once free of such attacks, particularly the eastern city of Quetta, where a community of ethnic minority Hazaras, who are overwhelmingly Shia, have been targeted. | In the last year the attacks have spread into areas that were once free of such attacks, particularly the eastern city of Quetta, where a community of ethnic minority Hazaras, who are overwhelmingly Shia, have been targeted. |
| The assaults include drive-by shootings of Hazara bystanders by gunmen riding on motorbikes. | The assaults include drive-by shootings of Hazara bystanders by gunmen riding on motorbikes. |
| And in the mountainous, northern province of Gilgit-Baltistan, Shias have been taken off public buses and executed. | And in the mountainous, northern province of Gilgit-Baltistan, Shias have been taken off public buses and executed. |
| Human Rights Watch has claimed the Pakistani state considers some of the Sunni extremist groups as useful allies, and therefore turns a blind eye to their activities. | Human Rights Watch has claimed the Pakistani state considers some of the Sunni extremist groups as useful allies, and therefore turns a blind eye to their activities. |
| The county must "stop appeasing extremists and start holding them accountable," said Ali Dayan Hasan, the organisation's director in Pakistan. | The county must "stop appeasing extremists and start holding them accountable," said Ali Dayan Hasan, the organisation's director in Pakistan. |
| The threat of violence has hit business in Karachi, the country's economic hub, with offices, shops and schools all closing mid-week. | The threat of violence has hit business in Karachi, the country's economic hub, with offices, shops and schools all closing mid-week. |
| "We are taking precautions but there are more than 600 congregations and 129 processions in Karachi alone," said Fayyaz Leghari, chief of police in Sindh province. "We can check people who come to the Imambargah but the processions are naturally very vulnerable." | "We are taking precautions but there are more than 600 congregations and 129 processions in Karachi alone," said Fayyaz Leghari, chief of police in Sindh province. "We can check people who come to the Imambargah but the processions are naturally very vulnerable." |
| The interior minister, Rehman Malik, has announced extraordinary measures to counter the risks. Yesterday he said he was considering shutting down all mobile phone services in major cities for the three days. | The interior minister, Rehman Malik, has announced extraordinary measures to counter the risks. Yesterday he said he was considering shutting down all mobile phone services in major cities for the three days. |
| Earlier he attempted to ban motorbikes from the streets of Karachi, a huge city with poor public transport and more than one million registered motorcycles. Amid media outrage he was forced to back down by a court order. | Earlier he attempted to ban motorbikes from the streets of Karachi, a huge city with poor public transport and more than one million registered motorcycles. Amid media outrage he was forced to back down by a court order. |
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