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Sectarian violence: ASWJ leader says can help resolve Quetta issue if worker killings in Karachi are addressed
Malik Ishaq’s close aide and ASWJ leader says PPP, PML-N, PTI have contacted them for election support.
LAHORE: Sitting inside a room at the Jamia Farooq-e-Azam seminary in Walton, Ghulam Rasool Shah, a senior operative of the banned Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamat (ASWJ), is irritated. Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) founder and his one-time mentor, Malik Ishaq was recently detained by the authorities for giving a “provocative speech” against Shia Muslims.
Shah says Ishaq had only given a speech and questions why his arrest could not have been avoided. “Compromises are reached here on murder, people get bail and are walking free.”
“Ishaq is not the only one from a proscribed organisation. Does Sajid Naqvi not have any cases against him? Are there no cases against Hafiz Saeed sahib? They are from proscribed organisations as well.”
Naqvi is a leader of Tehreek-e-Jafria and Hafiz Saeed belongs to Jamaatud Daawa. Saeed is also alleged to be a part of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Shah says he has “GHQ support”.
The links between ASWJ, Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) and LeJ run deep. SSP was renamed to ASWJ after the government imposed a ban on them in 2002. The LeJ is the armed wing of SSP and is behind the killings of Shias since its inception in the early 90s.
Shah’s association with the banned Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) began at a young age. It was in 1989 that he had heard the organisations founder, Haq Nawaz Jhangvi, speak at a public gathering in Bahawalnagar, after which he started working as a helper for one of SPP’s former chiefs, Ziaur Rehman Farooqi.
It was as a young operative of SSP that he watched an anti-Shia video of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) founder Malik Ishaq and was inspired by his ability to “speak against” Shia Islam with the help of “researched references”. Shah met Ishaq later that year in Rahim Yar Khan and the LeJ leader went on to play a role in his grooming.
Both men were detained together twice, once for four years from 2006 to 2009 at the Central jail in Multan and then at Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore during Muharram in Lahore.
Shah was jailed to “maintain public order” following the wave of sectarian killings in the 90s and had 22 cases filed against him. Released on May 20, 2010, he has been detained four times to date since then, including during Muharram. His speeches are known to incite hatred and violence against the Shia community.
A legal fight?
Armed men dressed like the Elite Force of Punjab Police stand alert outside the room. They could easily pass off as Police officials.
Guards in similar ‘uniform’ were also giving protection to Malik Ishaq before he had been detained. But Shah says that he had kept the guards with the government’s consent. “I asked them for security, but they did not give us any. They let us keep our own,” says Shah.
Originally the owner of an English-medium middle school in Bahawalnagar, Shah took intermediate and BA exams and also earned a Master’s degree in Islamic Studies during his 13 years at different high security jails in Multan, Gujranwala and Lahore. But Shah is known for his legal insight among members of the SSP. Not only has he defended his own cases in jail, he has also helped his fellow operatives with legal work.
More than 40 SSP and LeJ operatives are currently in jails across Pakistan. ASWJ has been providing “legel remedy” to currently jailed senior Lashkar-e-Jhangvi operative Akram Lahori as well.
It was Malik Ishaq who had advised Shah to fight legally. Shah’s name was on a list of jailed militants whose release had been demanded by Dr Usman, the mastermind of the attack on Army HQ. “My name was on the list, but I had been released by then,” says Shah smiling.
He says militants had then expected Malik Ishaq and himself to lead their operations after being released from jail, but the LeJ founder had advised him to fight legally instead.
Influential with Lashkar-e-Jhangvi
Even though Shah denies having any association with the current Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, he still defends it and says he is in a position to influence their activities.
He goes on to claim that in the wake of Shia killings, the Government of Punjab and a number of Interior ministry officials have asked him to “play a role in Quetta”.
“The Lashkar founded by Malik Ishaq is no more,” he says, “I told them I am willing to go to Quetta and will even take Malik Ishaq, but then they should let us go to Karachi as well.”
Every mention of Shia killings is countered by claims of SSP men being killed in Karachi. “Why is Quetta being discussed and not Karachi, where 200 of our companions have been killed.”
Shah claims that LeJ is an organisation of “deprived individuals”.
“They were and are forced to live in hiding and feel left out because the state does not pay heed to the woes of the Sunnis.”
But there is also paranoia within SSP that the Shia community will “overcome” Pakistan. “If Iran is a Shia state, then Pakistan must be a pure Sunni state. We want the government to give us our rights.”
Political alliances
SSP or ASWJ leaders have always had political aspirations. Azam Tariq, the third chief of SSP, was an MNA and the current chief of ASWJ Maulana Ahmed Ludhianvi ran for a National Assembly seat in 2008, but lost to a Pakistan Muslim League – Quaid (PML-Q) candidate.
Shah says that ASWJ has not decided on an alliance with any political party as yet. “Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) have contacted ASWJ for support in the elections.”
‘Change’
Shah says there has been a change of heart now. The once fiery speaker says the change came during his time in confinement and on the advice of Ishaq.
The change came in the shape of registering FIRs under blasphemy laws against the Shia community.
“Please take note, now when insult of the companions of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) has been committed, there has not been any rioting or protest, but an FIR was registered. This is change, right?”
He is “proud” that his organisation is “no longer” violent. Shah says ever since his release two years ago, he has been involved in registering 50 to 60 FIRs against members of the Shia community.
Shah says that Malik Ishaq has already filed a petition in the Rahim Yar Khan sessions court against the azaan given by the Shia community.
Wanting a ‘resolution’
Shah is speaking at a convention. There are slogans against the Shia community. One attendee asks Shah how he can submit an application against the Shia call for prayer. He is given instructions and is asked to follow ASWJ literature and pressurise his local police station as a group.
The process of registering complaints and FIRs is seen by Shah as evolution of their movement.
During the convention, Shah tells the attendees that both SSP and LeJ were used as a scare in the 80s and 90s, but says that despite their “ups and downs” all Jhangvis are focused on their ideology.
The ASWJ leader insists that they, including Malik Ishaq, want a solution to the Shia-Sunni conflict. He says they want to sit with the Shia leadership and resolve the issue. This was said an hour before the interview, when another member asked attendees to prefer their “anti-Shia, pro-Sunni cause” to the “love of the country” through the example of Haq Nawaz Jhangvi.
One of their primary demands is to have enough leverage in parliament to get legislation passed which gives death penalty to anyone “insulting” the Holy Prophet’s (pbuh) companions.
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Bogus and Absurd. Shame on you Mr. Shah. I love my Sunni brothers and these tafkeeri’s are not Sunnis.
Dear Mr. Shah, I did not become Muslim at your fatwa, and now, you cannot exclude by your Fatwa.Recommend
Dear Mr. Shah, the reason why Pakistan cannot be a “Sunni Republic” is that there is no sect in Pakistan that is in Minority. Even If you throw all the Christians, Ahmadis, Shias, Hindus out of Pakistan, still there would be “Sectarianism” – Mark my words. All are in minority in Pakistan, on the other hand, there are nearly 90% Shia Athna Ashari in Iran having no difference in Aqaid.
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Seems only deprived of killing innocents, that they overcome once joining the Laskhar.
“If Iran is a Shia state, then Pakistan must be a pure Sunni state. We want the government to give us our rights.”
Please chief Justice give them their rights, freedom to kill minorities, Surely won’t take long when only Sunni’s will be left in Pakistan (better Sunnistan) again they’ll be holding each others color’s and taking about deprivation and right some new inter religious slogan.
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Dear Mr.Shah – Can I also file a FIR against you because you praise those people who are not deserving? (take it lightly). This was just to give you a thought. Learn tolerance.
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Well if you mean that Yazeed and his fathers are the companions of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) then we have every reason to insult them. Good luck to you and your organisations. You need to read Shia history as well and then come after us. We will be willingly sacrifice our lives for what Imam Hussain (AS) took stand against Yazeed. Ya Ali Madad Recommend
ET are you trying to spread more hatred by showing these videos saying “Shia kafir Shia kafir”? If anything you should cut hate material before posting such news on the website. Are you waiting for a complaint in court against you?
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Agreed with this line.
“Why is Quetta being discussed and not Karachi, where 200 of our companions have been killed.”
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@Ali: ET always spread hatred. You can go through every single post of their and you will know.
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The main problem in this regard is that shias insult The Companions ra of the Prophet saw. If they stop doing that, I believe there would peace. The shia ulema have not done anything so far to publically distance themselves from the filthy language used by their shia scholars to insult Hazrat Omar ra, Hazrat Aisha ra, Hazrat Amir Muawiyah ra. And please notice: I am not mentioning Yazeed la in this list, he is not respected by deobandis, only some able hadeeth/salafi respect him.
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He should be detained for hate speech. ET video is the evidence!!!! I am gonna sue him very soon InshAllah!!!!!
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These (ASWJ) people are not sunnis, these peoples are wahabi’s and working on saudi arab mission to spread wahabi islam in pakistan.
otherwise sunnis and shias are very ok with each other.
Tribune guys, its very harsh and discriminated reporting! no need to highlight such reports..Recommend
@Ali Ahmed. I agree we should not use filthy language towards the companions. It is ok to have a difference of opinion. If you know the real shia scholers, they don’t allow it either. But even if someone disrespects the sahabas, it does not give anyone free pass to kill innocent shias. the poor shia person most likely didn’t even do anything to deserve the killing.
btw you included mawiya in your list. you should read history from both shia/sunni books and see what crimes he committed specially against Imam Ali (a.s.) God gave everyone a brain including you.
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Only happens in Pakistan where single handed massacre has been done in Quetta and justification is given based on the incudents of karachi.
i would like to ask how many buses were stopped in karachi and Ssp people being murdered based on ID cards???
Shia-Sunni unity should be the only way forward for our country and these should no longer be allowed to use the word SUNNI for themselves to carry forward their barbaric intentions…Recommend
Mr Shah! Iran is not a Shia Republic but an Islamic republic but defacto Shia because of 90% representation !!!! as pakistan is also defacto Sunni republic with 70% Sunni representation.Please research and upgrade your Knowledge
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@Ali Ahmad:they attacked the 12 Rabi ul awal milad( now that was purely a Sunni procession, what has that to do with shias?) ,data darbar! and more! and i seriously dont consider these people sunni either!
PS : well im a shiaRecommend
@Ali Ahmad:
No, thats not the main problem, but a pathetic flimsy excuse and lie to spread intolerance and terrorism on any pre-text. A Shia Muslim Pakistani will not commit violence on all Pakistani Sunnis if some Sunnis insult the Ahlul-Bayt through spite by praising Yazid (as you admit some groups do), because that violent reaction would be immorally insane, and isn’t condoned. I don’t know if one can be reasoned with considering their ideology has raised even the Muawiya as a saint.
The main problem are all these twisted ideological and vicious Wahhabi/Salafi/Deoband/Sunni extremists involved in a majority of all types of un-Islamic and criminal terrorist attacks, including sectarian terrorism, within Pakistan and globally, and unfortunately their growing bigoted supporters that condone discrimination and violence. Prejudiced Sunni supremacist ideologues seem to delusionally fantasize that they are being insulted 24/7 by all Shias, which is ludicrous, and are even intolerant to benign criticism or reason that contradicts their beliefs. There is no justification for insane sectarian cleansing, massacres and genocide. Recommend
what after this country will become a sunni country ? … we will still be killing each other siting Barelvi, deobandi and other differences …
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There should be no sectarian killing whatsoever. Loudspeakers should be allowed only for azan. Reverence for Hazrat Ali (ra) should not lead to condemnation of Muawiyah (ra) or of any of other Sahaba, including, Abu Bakr, Umar, Usman, and Ayesha (ra). Shias can propagate the truth of their teachings by reinforcing the positive contribution of Hazrat Ali and Imam Hassan and Imam Hussein (ra), and other A’imma as well, all of whom are also venerated by Sunnis. Both should concentrate their proselytization to the best in their traditions without recourse to censure of saints that are honored and held in high esteem by either sect.
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LeJ is an organisation of ‘deprived’ individuals: True. Deprived of common sense.
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To finish this mess once and for all , in the interest of those shia’s , the simple solution is that they should do a planned / complete boycott of this country and leave it !
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It’s like listening to the mafia claim that they can stop killings of innocents in Chicago if their guys are spared in New York. These disgusting monsters can’t and won’t resolve anything except through intolerance and violence.
They’re behind most of the sectarian killings nation-wide.
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I agree with @Ali Ahmad that shia people shouldn’t curse companions and mother of beleivers . there will be peace I am sure about that if they don’t do that.
still I am not in favor of violence though I have read very offensive material from shias. there is no single faith in this world who faith is to curse people,
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They are not sunni they hate sunni as they hate shia Recommend
Although i m a shia muslim but i have never condone or accepted insulted to the campanions of Prophet Muhammad (pbhu) as we as a shia believe that when those who we follow tolerate the difference at the early stage of islam after the demise of prophet than who we are to raise derogartory remarks. But i do accept that there are few people who lost control over their tounge but killing an innocent person in not the answer. We have scholars in sunni fiqh like israr uk haq and zakir naik who use derogatory remarks about Imam Ali and Imam Hussain but we as shia not threaten them or kill any one cuz of that. The basic problem of Pakistan is enforcement of law and the curbing of these terrorists. I lived in London withthe same shia thoughs and no one has ever got the courage to hit me or threaten me. But as soon as we go to Pakistan their honour wakes up and they did not even think twice.before taking law in their hands. These terrorist need to be dealt with an iron hand and you will see their so called love and effection will be gone. Even if the establishment will remove their support for these cowards than anyone can deal with them because no one in our land is scared of those who run away while wearing burqa.
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@zeeshan sheikh:
No surprise you agree with him and propagate the same prejudiced myth. You acknowledge that there’s brutal rabid violence but insincerely claim there’ll be peace by kowtowing to violent ideologues and ONLY their hypocritical twisted interpretation and revisionist history.
If you condone and support ASWJ and Malik Ishaq, you very much favour bigotry, extremism and violence. You know what isn’t common in other faiths…irrational and insane justification to murder random people of a community in perpetual hatred, like this Takfiri group and Kharijite cult. Shame on such low-lives who are a bane on Pakistan.
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@Ali:
“ET are you trying to spread more hatred by showing these videos saying “Shia kafir Shia kafir”?” I had thought that only Qadianis were Kafir in Pakistan, now unfortunately this list is being upgraded. We will see in future how many more hidden Kafirs are found by our detective mullahs and thrown out of pale of Islam.
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@ Zeeshan Sheikh:
Answering a wrong question with wrong answer, never makes anyone right. what u say is exactly what America thinks about ” War on Terror” … War for peace .. uhhh … Fight for the right doesn’t mean start killing innocent and unarmed people …
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Such interviews MUST NOT be published
It is extremely lethal for the country
Pl avoid this practice
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@Justin Truthful:
“Loudspeakers should be allowed only for azan”
I assure you, Loud speakers are used only for majalis and bayan. and I want to differentiate. Azaan Loud speakers are for entire nieghbourhood, but the shia majalis speakers only for people in the building
Shia have 1000s of things to talk about, cursing the sahaba is the least of priority. What about the loud speakers used by BAnned groups when they say kill shias etc
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@azeem:
Any loudspeakers which can be heard outside of the premises of religious gatherings should be banned. Hateful speech by anyone should not be allowed anywhere.
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ET, please post this comment:
Let the Ulema of both the sects meet and develop a code of ethics, a code of conduct, and a modus vivendi and let this form the basis of recommendations to the Parliament. Then, let the Parliament enact laws based on these recommendations. Thereafter, the Government must diligently, strictly, and relentlessly enforce these laws and punish violations expeditiously.
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@azeem:
I would rather not have you state the last eight words of your sentence: “Shia have 1000s of things to talk about, cursing the sahaba is the least of priority.”
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@Parachinar:
All Sunnis condemn Yazeed and uphold the sanctity and righteousness of the pious Imam Hazrat Hussein (ra). All the Sahaba were not father or relative of Yazeed. No Sunni would ever tolerate blaspheming the Great Imam.
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@syed110: Those were done by RAW..You should be aware of the things they are doing in our country to spread hatred.
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@Peace Seeker:
It was a history and we won’t be punished either by cursing/praising Yazeed so we should avoid talking about the things we are not sure about.
Allah won’t answer you if you cursed him or not..He will ask about the things which are made Farz so start worrying for them.
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@Khadim Karrar:
Your post:
@azeem:
I would rather not have you state the last eight words of your sentence: “Shia have 1000s of things to talk about, cursing the sahaba is the least of priority,” so notwithstanding that “cursing of the sahaba is the least of priority” yet this is an admission that this is a priority nevertheless. And, this is the crux of the matter that leads to conflict.
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@Ahmed:
We do have to concentrate on performing “farz” and of performing our duties to Allah. But the implication of my post was that AS A MATTER OF FACT since most Sunnis and Shias condemn Yazeed and uphold the righteousness of Imam Hussein (ra) this should have a calming effect on sectarian relations.
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@bigsaf:
Do you have any real and practical solutions for bringing peace and sectarian harmony without your usual rant against “Wahhabi/Salafi/Deoband/Sunni extremists.”
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@azeem:
You say, “…cursing the sahaba is the least of priority.” Why is it a priority at all?
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Ill-literate… Ill-tolerant… Ill-mannered and ill-minded… not these but the ones who take their words seriously and act on it.Recommend
@Peace Lover:
That rant is not said enough, simply because there are a good number of Pakistanis still in denial of the intolerant and irrational religious ideologies and extremism that’s been cultivated and accepted among its citizens. I believe there’s even one RAW conspiracy right above your own comment. That recognition alone is one step to a solution.
We need to promote a secular state instead of a religious discriminatory one, where only religiosity is hyped, and condemn these intolerant variations, with their nonsensical inherent contradictions instead of adopting them (this is self-evident).
We need awareness and education in recognizing discrimination and bigotry, promoting tolerance, if not acceptance, and clearly point out how such ideologies that promote terrorism are irrational, immoral, inhumane and un-Islamic.
We can’t condone violence of any kind, be it nationalist militancy or religious mob justice, and of course need to get rid of the guns of the streets instead of handing out ‘licenses’.
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@bigsaf:
ET: please post this comment.
“We can’t condone violence of any kind, be it nationalist militancy or religious mob justice, and of course need to get rid of the guns of the streets instead of handing out ‘licenses’.”
Fine! We need to keep guns out of the streets and why not also keep out religious demonstrations too as that would HELP make Pakistan a secular state much easier.
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@parachinar
Insult runs in your blood and we have seen hundreds of time u insult great personality of Islam.
This is enough for us that 300 million shias in the world don’t have names of Umer Siddiq and Usman.This shows what: pure prejudice of ur sect.Recommend
Shame on ET for this article. Recommend
They have nothing to do with Islam.
This is petrodollars talking – cut off the finance and they will dissappear.Recommend
I have got an after-shave lotion at home. Will they kill me? or just handle it legally in 2014?
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@Syed
abusing companion is a minor point:
u can’t tolerate ur parents being abused by someone and u take it petty to abuse great companions; shame on this hard-wired prejudice of Iranians whose anti muslim policies are not hidden.
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@saeed:
What is/are the sources of your information about the percentage of Sunnis in Pakistan and Shias in Iran?
However, Shia scholars must control their followers to stop abusing and insulting the sacred people of the majority of Muslims across the world.
Sunnis never insult sacred people of any other Muslim sect.
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Why are you not approving my last comment please approve and show it please .
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We need to be careful not to categorize anyone to belong to the Takfiri Group or to the Kharajite Group and let us not pronounce anyone kafir as that determination is the sole prerogative only of Allah!
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There is no justification whatsoever for sectarian killings in Quetta or anywhere else for that matter. The culprits must be caught and punished according to the law. There is also the need to investigate and find out the culprits behind the killings in Karachi of both the sects and to punish the culprits according to the law.
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@Peace Lover:
A secular state as in, separation of religion from government. I am for pluralism and religious freedom (not to be confused with extremism) in society.
There is a difference between a demonstration held for religious purposes and those held by hate groups to incite discrimination and killings. I would only put in a temporary ban, due to security reasons.
I’ve argued before that the security threat of Wahhabi/Salafi/Deoband/Sunni extremists will not end with simply banning the processions, which is simply a weak solution and giving these intolerants what they want, as the minority Shia community has been attacked at different locations, and will not itself necessarily change the regressive mindsets adopted by Pakistani citizens. Recommend
@Ibrahim Hashmi:
It sounds like anti-Shia bigotry talking points from the Sunni hate groups above.
Who you deem to be great personalities are simply not to Shia Muslims due to evidenced historical reasons.
No one is going to murder another person or insanely massacre entire communities for insulting one’s parents. I would think that be more condemnable. Iranians are Muslims. This exposes your own inherent prejudice, probably influenced by Saudi Wahhabi beliefs which inherently bigoted and intolerant, where you only believe Sunni supremacists are Muslims, and seem to outcast Shia Pakistanis as Iranians.
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@H. M:
You maybe surprised to hear that due to growing extremism, some Sunnis have started to abuse and insult sacred personalities to Shias out of spite. Of course nothing will happen to them from Shias, as mindless violence is not ideologically condoned. Lets say that Sunnis haven’t even indulged in this, some Sunni extremists have certainly indulged in. Would think one would at least note this insane violence and condemn it instead of ignoring it and falsely putting the onus on Shias. Recommend
These people are vocal about what they do and yet the Courts throw out all evidence including video footages and voice recordings presented as evidence.
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Nice Speech By Syed Ghulam Rasool Shah ,
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It’s good to see Tribune brough up this video and if you see that there are such small group of people who are killing the innocent shia’s . We all know who supports them and whenever these people are captured they are released the next day. But an average sunni do realise that these people are not Muslim’s and are changing their faith’s..Recommend