This was highlighted in a white paper issued by MNA Marvi Memon and addressed to the prime minister, the speaker of the National Assembly and the chief justice.
“The trend has reduced the ‘religious freedom’ indicator of Pakistan and has meant that we are in violation of Islam’s high standards of protecting places of worship,” she wrote in the paper. “It is your government’s responsibility to protect the people of Pakistan wherever they are in this country.”
She sought investigation reports by relevant ministers on each one of these attacks and asked them to brief the parliament on measures taken for the security of religious places and gatherings.
The paper reveals that the highest number of attacks, 22, was carried out in 2010, followed by 16 in 2009 and eight in 2008.
The most recent attack was carried out on Dec 16, 2010, killing a child and injuring 25 others, including eight women and three children, when militants threw a hand grenade at a Muharram mourning procession at Yadgar Chowk in Peshawar.
Major attacks in 2010:
November 5, Darra Adamkhel and Badabher, Juma congregation and Isha prayer gathering: Two separate attacks killed at least 68 and injured 70.
October 7, Karachi, shrine of Sufi saint Abdullah Shah Ghazi: Two suicide attacks killed nine and injured over 70.
September 1, Lahore, Shia procession marking Hazrat Ali’s martyrdom: Two suicide attacks killed 29 and injured 243.
July 1, Lahore, shrine of Sufi saint Data Ganj Baksh Hajveri: Three suicide bombings killed 45 and injured 175.
May 28, Lahore, Ahmadi places of worship at Garhi Shahu and Model Town: Gun-and-grenade attacks killed at least 93.
February 18, Khyber Agency, mosque in Akakhel area of Tirah valley: Suicide attack killed at least 30 persons and injured 110.
February 5, Karachi, procession marking Hazrat Imam Hussain’s chehlum: Twin blasts killed at least 25 and injured over 100.
Major attacks in 2009:
December 28, Karachi, Shia Ashura procession: Suicide bombing killed at least 30 and injured more than 63.
December 27, Muzaffarabad, Muharram procession near an imambargah: Suicide bombing killed at least 15 and injured over 100.
December 4, Rawalpindi, Juma congregation at Parade Lanes mosque: Terrorist attack killed 40, including 17 children, serving and retired Army officers and personnel, and injured over 86.
July 13, Mian Channu, village seminary: Bombing killed 11 persons, including six children.
June 5, Dir Upper, village mosque: Suicide bombing killed 49, including 12 children.
April 5, Chakwal, imambargah: Suicide bombing killed 24, including three children, and injured 140.
March 27, Khyber Agency, mosque at Peshawar Torkham highway: Suicide bombing killed 83 and injured over 100.
February 5, Dera Ghazi Khan, mosque: Suicide bombing killed at least 32 and injured 48.
Major attacks in 2008:
December 5, Peshawar, imambargah near Qisakhwani Bazaar: Car bombing killed at least 34 and injured more than 150.
September 10, Lower Dir, mosque in Maskanai: Gun-and-grenade attack killed at least 25 and injured 50.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 12th, 2011.
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