A local leader of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Fazl) was shot dead on Friday, whipping up fears of renewed sectarian violence and dealing a blow to efforts to maintain harmony in the region.
JUI-F’s former deputy secretary general Ubaidur Rehman was shot dead by gunmen outside his home in Gilgit city. “He was shot in the head,” Deputy Inspector General of Police Ali Sher told The Express Tribune. “We have detained four suspects for questioning,” he added.
The news of Ubaidur Rehman’s killing spread like wildfire, sparking protests across the city. Some 2,000 men gathered on Airport Road to condemn the killing. The situation, however, became tense after security forces tried to resist people coming from the Kondas area from joining the protest.
Ubaidur Rehman’s killing dealt a severe blow to Masjid Board’s efforts to create harmony in Gilgit-Baltistan region, which has seen frequent outbreaks of sectarian violence in the past.
In a rare move last week, a group of Sunni elders and clerics had led a mourning procession taken out by the Shia community – thanks to the Masjid Board’s efforts.
“I want to ask, ‘is this the reward of our peace initiatives’,” said JUI-F’s chief for G-B Maulana Luqman while addressing protesters. “We will be forced to withdraw our support to the peace initiatives if the killers are not brought to justice,” he warned.
The Masjid Board is a representative body of the Shia and Sunni communities which was formed after a deadly bout of violence in April that led to the imposition of curfew in the region.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 1st, 2012.
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How is it possible that all entry points and interior city is always cordon off by security forces all the time and killers came and kill and escape easily.??
Terrorism is not only the issue of Gilgit Baltistan , it is now a day's an international issue but the difference is wen it happens internationally any where culprits are being chased, and punished with in a short time frame and justice is always see's there. but unfortunately Specially in Pakistan and generally in Gilgit Baltistan Culprits are not punished in the real way because of that more people dare follow them..The best way to bring peace is to hate the sin not the sinner....Mean to say try to remove the causes not the person because if one person is being removed there will be so many other's behind him but if we remove the reasons than we will be successful in bringing peace. Live long Pakistan,,,Live Long Gilgit Baltistan.....
Law enforcement agencies should arrest the culprit involved in this killing and should be punished. It is worth to mention here that police and rangers have arrested 8 suspects in this case. In current year, almost 70 innocent people were killed while travelling on KKH in Kohistan, Chilas and Babusar area. The number of suspects arrested for killing of 70 people is 8. It shows the discrimination and biased approach of government and administration.
The terrorists dont want to see you working together. So the best response is to NOT do what they want. Increase in the efforts like the Ashura juloos is the best revenge.