Group clashes: Neighbourhood on guard as more blood spilt in New Karachi’s Godhra

Five people killed in 24 hours.

KARACHI:

The killing of a young man on Friday took the toll in New Karachi’s Godhra violence to five in 24 hours, according to said SHO Amir Hayat Khan. But no arrests have been made as no one, not even the neighbourhood, is clear what exactly started the bloodshed.

Friday’s victim was identified as Muslim Qadri and a man named Faisal Qadri was rushed to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital after he was injured.

The Sunni Tehreek’s Fahim Qadri claimed the men belonged to his party and were attacked by a rival group, Ahle Sunnat wal Jamaat (ASWJ), formerly known as Sipah-e Sahaba Pakistan (SSP). In Godhra camp, an ASWJ man was gunned down and Muhammad Hussain Attari (Dawat-e Islami), Latifa Bibi (Sunni Tehreek) and Sarfaraz, a pedestrian, were killed. Life has come to a standstill in Sector 11-G.

Barelvi leaders claim that the sect is attracting people in New Karachi, especially in Godhra camp. “The ASWJ is unhappy as their members are joining our group,” claimed Saleem. According to him, the ASWJ wants to take over Farooq-e-Azam Masjid and the Godhra Muslim Community Hospital. “Since they want to take both the mosque and hospital, the ASWJ attacks us and our people every day. They forget that the hospital has been run by our people for many years,” he said.

Godhra camp is home to nearly 100,000 people belonging to two different sects. According to ASWJ spokesperson Maulana Taj Hanfi, his people are in the majority. “There is a conspiracy against us, we didn’t shoot anyone, however someone shot our men,” he said.

“These ASWJ people are liars. We are the majority in this area,” said Jamaat-e Ahle Sunnat’s (JAS) Qari Saleem. The JAS, which belongs to the Barelvi school of thought, claims that the ASWJ men stormed into the house of JAS members and killed or injured them.

A resident armed with a pistol claimed that young men came to support men in the neighbourhood. “We took up guns otherwise the situation would have spiralled out of control. They broke into our homes and attacked us. This is not the first time,” he said.

“Look at what is happening outside! There are gunshots right outside the gate,” said a resident while talking about what happened to her family. “Those cruel people did not spare the women. Latifa asked them to spare her they just shot her.”

Men from Godhra camp who were at work when the violence broke out were not able to get home on Thursday. “We have no idea what happened yesterday or how it happened,” they said. “We got a phone call not to come home as the situation was bad,” said Imran.

SHO Amir Hayat Khan is unsure what sparked the violence. “Some say that the ASWJ man was killed on his way from the mosque and had an argument with someone, while others claim that it was old enemity,” he said. “Some also say that the fight was over a girl.”

There was strict security during the funerals on Friday. “We were positioned on the rooftops, prepared for any situation,” said ASI Muhammad Wakeel. “Thank God nothing happened. There was a small protest but nothing more.”

Latifa Bibi and Attari’s funeral prayers were offered outside Farooq-e Azam Masjid by Maulana Abdul Manan Noorani. Faisal’s funeral prayers were offered by ASWJ Karachi Ameer Maulana Aurangzaib Farooqi at Siddiq-e Akbar Masjid and Rehmania Masjid.

According to ASWJ spokeperson Maulana Taj Hanfi, the woman and Attari were ST activists and had attacked his party’s Faisal. ST spokesperson Fahim Qadri told The Express Tribune that Faisal was not killed by the ST. “The ASWJ had tried to ignite violence,” he said.

Police claim to have detained two suspects over their alleged involvement in the violence. The identities and religious affiliations of the suspects has not been disclosed. “The suspects were involved in the Godhra violence. Nothing more can be said as the investigation is still going on,” said SHO Amir Hayat Khan.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 2^nd, 2011.