Attack on Ashura Procession!
(Image Courtesy: http://www.dawn.com)Taliban have once again struck at Pakistan. The attack this time has been on the Ashura procession and target was Shia community in the sourthern city of Karachi. Whatever my views be on religious zeal and religious rituals, the underlying reality remains that this was an attack on innocent unarmed civilians who gathered to be part of a spiritual gathering. It cannot get any barbaric than this.
Karachi has long been associated with Islamic Extremists. The roots of it date back to 1979 and the Jihad Inc. that emerged as a result. Unfortunately, even before that Karachi remained a strong hub of Islamist elements with strong vote bank for JI and JUP. Post 9/11 at one point, around 2004, it was dubbed as the city with most concentrated Al Qaeeda presences. Not only that but most Al Qaeeda activists in Pakistan have been captured from Karachi.
In a history of sect related attacks, in 2003, a bus of SUPARCO carrying Shia worshipers was attacked. Appox. 8 people were killed in the attack. Shia community widely suspected Deoband aligned Taliban for the attack. In retaliation to the attack, Mufti Shamzai, a strong supporter of Taliban, their ideology and methodology and religious mentor of Mullah Omar and Baitullah Mehsud was killed in 2004.
Apart from sect-directed terrorism, the city has been a target of large scale terrorist attacks, including the one on the welcome reception of Benazir Bhutto in October 2007, killing around 350 people.
Karachi had been spared from the recent wave of terrorism that had hit NWFP and Punjab. A part of it could be attributed to strong law enforcement while another significant factor stated was the fact that Taliban do not want to disrupt Karachi for it is acting as a hub for money and ammunition supply to them (even through bank robberies).
With three attacks in three days, it is to be seen whether TTP has decided to target Karachi full throttle or was it just an incidental escalation to target Shia community during Moharram?
In the wake of these attacks, Altaf Hussain, has asked the nation to socially boycott the political, intellectual and other elements who still support Taliban or hold sympathetic views towards these beasts. I hope this time of test and sorrow makes us unite against the enemies of Pakistan and humanity and their supporters in polity, in media and in society. It is a with us or against us moment and nations assert their sovereignty and national character not through some fake posturings but through mobilized and unified response to their enemies and their supporters.
Karachi has long been associated with Islamic Extremists. The roots of it date back to 1979 and the Jihad Inc. that emerged as a result. Unfortunately, even before that Karachi remained a strong hub of Islamist elements with strong vote bank for JI and JUP. Post 9/11 at one point, around 2004, it was dubbed as the city with most concentrated Al Qaeeda presences. Not only that but most Al Qaeeda activists in Pakistan have been captured from Karachi.
In a history of sect related attacks, in 2003, a bus of SUPARCO carrying Shia worshipers was attacked. Appox. 8 people were killed in the attack. Shia community widely suspected Deoband aligned Taliban for the attack. In retaliation to the attack, Mufti Shamzai, a strong supporter of Taliban, their ideology and methodology and religious mentor of Mullah Omar and Baitullah Mehsud was killed in 2004.
Apart from sect-directed terrorism, the city has been a target of large scale terrorist attacks, including the one on the welcome reception of Benazir Bhutto in October 2007, killing around 350 people.
Karachi had been spared from the recent wave of terrorism that had hit NWFP and Punjab. A part of it could be attributed to strong law enforcement while another significant factor stated was the fact that Taliban do not want to disrupt Karachi for it is acting as a hub for money and ammunition supply to them (even through bank robberies).
With three attacks in three days, it is to be seen whether TTP has decided to target Karachi full throttle or was it just an incidental escalation to target Shia community during Moharram?
In the wake of these attacks, Altaf Hussain, has asked the nation to socially boycott the political, intellectual and other elements who still support Taliban or hold sympathetic views towards these beasts. I hope this time of test and sorrow makes us unite against the enemies of Pakistan and humanity and their supporters in polity, in media and in society. It is a with us or against us moment and nations assert their sovereignty and national character not through some fake posturings but through mobilized and unified response to their enemies and their supporters.
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