Violence feared at Ahle Sunnat rally on Muharram 10

Rally a ‘sectarian terrorist group’s’ attempt to provoke violence: Shia leaders.

LAHORE:

Shia leaders have condemned a plan by a Deobandi group to stage a rally starting at Lal Masjid in Islamabad on Muharram 10 as a provocation to sectarian violence and a threat to law and order.

The Ahle Sunnat wal Jamaat (ASJ) issued a press release on Monday urging all Ahle Sunnat supporters to join the ‘Maddah Sahaba’ (Fans of the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) Companions) rally starting at Lal Masjid and ending at the National Press Club.

Shia leaders described the ASJ as a “sectarian terrorist outfit” and urged the government to prevent the rally as it could result in violence.

“It is an open secret that the ASJ is just the Sipah-i-Sahaba under a new name and the government turns a blind eye to their activities,” said Maulana Muhammad Asghar Askari, deputy secretary general of the Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen.

The Sipah-i-Sahaba, which has claimed responsibility for many acts of violence against Shias in the past, is proscribed as a terrorist outfit

Askari said that the ASJ rally was meant to fan anti-Shia sentiment.

“Last year they organised a similar rally where they shouted slogans declaring Shias to be non-Muslims. The federal and provincial governments are supposed to control such groups.”

He said that the Shia community in Islamabad was “very concerned”. He said the timing of the rally showed that its only purpose was to anger Shias.

Nusrat Shahani, the coordination secretary for Jamiatul Muntazir in Lahore, said that a rally by the “terrorist organisation” would fan sectarian hatred. “What are the law enforcement agencies doing? This terrorist group is holding a rally on the very day that the segment of society it targets holds most dear,” he said.

He added that the government appeared to have forgotten that Lal Masjid had become a “terrorist base” not long ago, and the violence and recriminations that followed the security operation to clear the mosque. “Now they are letting it become a base for sectarian violence,” he said.

Shahani said that many mourning processions were planned for the day and there could be clashes between the ASJ supporters and Shias. “It is not a religious issue but a matter of law and order. Sunnis have never taken out s separate processions on Muharram 10. They participate in Shia processions to show solidarity,” he said.

ASJ Secretary General Maulana Munir Ahmed Muavia said that the Farooq-i-Azam Scouts, which he described as “a wing of ASJ security”, would guard the rally, which would start after Zuhr prayers. “We will definitely not change the time or route of the rally,” he said. “The government better not try to stop us. They should also provide us security, otherwise it will be proof that the government only provides security for one community,” he said.

ASJ Media Coordinator Obaidullah Usman said that last year, the Jamaat had rescheduled its rally from Muharram 10 to Muharram 12 on the government’s request, but it would not do so this year. “We don’t want to sabotage Shia rallies. The martyrs of Karbala belong to all Muslims and everyone has a right to pay homage to them,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 6^th, 2011.