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 6th, 2011.
COMMENTS (31)
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@ Abdullah. you think that they dont take out rallies at any time they want? Son, their 'naqab posh' group of terrorist attack main markets of Islamabad. Shiites rallies never hurt anyone. Nobody is there by force. Everybody joins at their own will and the strength of their belief. You should remove the veil of hatred and SEE things. Nobody observes fast on eid. some days are just meant for a thing. anything else is just as odd as the existence of AJS.
These illitrate Mulvies really digust me to the gut.. 14th century Mulavies i can bet their own kids do not listen to them...Religios tolirance is not something we understand post afghan-soviet war rise of agencies funded gaurdians of religion.
This is a clear provocation. Unwise decision by ASJ.
@Anon Tell me when has Sipah-e-Muhammad taken out a rally in the past ten years?
@Straight Fire:
So you would basically cave in to extremist terrorists who attack minorities by curbing minority religious rights and freedom of expression instead?
There's been targeted killings. Bombs in Masjids, Imambargahs, funerals, etc.
Don't think the violence will simply stop with just banning the processions as haters or bigots may like.
If peace and tranquility is to be maitained, civic life and business is not disturbed and functioned normally as usual, streets and roads remain open and be neat and clean, then do only ONE thing. Ban completely, religious or irreligious, all sorts of rallies, processions, 'juloos', 'dharna' etc. etc. I doubt if the religion factor has worked positively and created a congenial and peaceful atmosphere in any part of the world but it has certainly NOT in Pakistan.
@alicia: So be it ...
@Tanvir: Well according to 'Human Rights' and 'Freedom of Speech' ... every individual has got equal right to whom he love ... but the one who hates others are called 'Extremist', 'Fanatics', 'Lunatic' and what not ... so better love everyone as there is no word 'hatred' in the dictionary of humanity or you will stand in the rows of Taliban otherwise ....
@Straight Fire, absolutely correct !!!
Have we learned nothing from the fitnahs?
No terrorist or extremist organization should be allowed to operate anywhere by simply and conveniently changing its name. Law should be appropriately amended and applied.
The thing is this rally is not being done with the right intentions. AS is only doing this to provoke the shias. If they needed to take a rally it could've been done tomorrow or day after that why today? They are just going to make speeches against shias, shout abuses at them and then it will end up in a clash between both sides creating sectarianism.
@Straight Fire, FYI 10th Muhrram is a public holiday, so technically it is a shut down by govt, Imam Hussain A.S was the grandson of the Prophet (that I hope you believe in) not a chacha mama of some jageerdar. We shutdown the country on 14th Aug, hold rallies, but you are just unthankful to Imam Hussain's sacrifice, probably you love yazid instead
@hypocracy So 12th Rabiulawwal jaloos and Imam Hussain A.S. jaloos are bida'at while a rally from Sipah-e-Shahba is all perfect and according to Islam? This is what we call hypocracy
@Zain Abbas and Zohaib Jafri, I am guessing you are shias from your names, so I understand your concerns about ASJ. But your organisation Sipah Mohd also takes out similar rallies and voice differences against Sunnis. This organisation has also been linked to sectarian terror acts previously as well. Also many of the shia majlis vocally condemn some of the Sahaba Caliphs sunnis believe in which is offensive to our sentiments too, just like ASJ assertions are offensive to yours. Lets try not to keep the debate one-sided, both sects have inciteful problematic groups, both sects have their own way of remembering Ashura, which everyone needs to accept. Everyone should go through security checks, but there is no point in calling out groups or putting restrictions as this will only antagonise things further and incite differences.
@Mard-e-Haq: When one faction of nation remains drunk under the influence of 'Freedom' other will keep cleaning their streets in the name of 'Honor' ... case closed
Why is it such a problem if sunni groups take out a procession on Muharram 10? Why is ET targetting only ASJ? They make it sound as if Ashura is only for Shias and if Sunnis take out a procession they are harassing the latter.The fact that shiites get to take out a procession on ashura despite being in a Sunni majority country is a sign of how tolerant most sunnis are about them (except for a few miscreants who try to stir up trouble deliberately). Do you think Iran lets Sunnis take out processions? Pakistan is alot better than people give us credit for. ASJ can take out a group peacefully if they want, it is their constitutional right to assembly. So please no hypocritical whiny comments. For those who have a problem with ASJ need to remember, that Sipah-Mohammad is a Shia group also linked to militancy, whose members this year were also arrested for target killings, and they also have links with MQM. So seriously ET stop fanning sectarian flames and taking sides. Whoever wants to take out a group should do so peacefully. Lets all hope and pray that this day gets over peacefully for all sides.
@Mard-e-Haq: Exactly, same goes for the ones who paralyze whole country on 10th Moharram ... Ban them and there will be no violence
Limit of an Irresponsible behavior!! Shameful action.
@Serial Killer,
Your comment is appreciated. When you have fanaticism mushrooming on one end, there will be licentious forces forming at the other. The solution for Veena Malik and her ilk is simple. Just ban her or boycott her trashy fare. No need for violence:-)
@Mard-e-Haq: When veena malik can't let her religion (i.e. religion of lust) remain private why would some real 'Mard-e-Haq' would keep his religion inside 4 walls ... that will be made public as well and that will be ensured too ;)
ASJ is an extremist outfit with a history of terrorism In pakistan, they are equally dangerous as any other terrorist organisation. Pakistan and UN must impose ban on this organisation and all of their offices must get seal by law enforcement agencies. ASJ is the old sepah sahaba, they were involved in karachi's recent violence, they praise yazeed then y they are portraying hypocrisy by taking out an rally today, "yazeed say bhi merasim aur hussain ko bhi salam. the only reason behind this new name is to create a misunderstanding and confusion between (ehlay-sunnat barelvies)sunni tehreek and shia community.
ASJ will shout slogans against shiites, brand them non-muslims and ignite hateful campaign, shiites will label ASJ as trouble-makers and terrorists before the rally and would clash with them in all aspects, demanding that they be banned. Well done, a good to start to the homage we are 'supposed' to be paying to the martyrs of Karbala from both parties.
If what Maulana Muhammad Asghar Askari is saying is true then ASJ should not be allowed to take out the rally. In fact ASJ should be banned.
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui,
Divisions over petty issues occur when you allow Wahhabis to fund Madrassas and mullahs. The Quaid was a Shia; Abdus Salam was an Ahmediya and yet these communities are discriminated to the point of persecution. Christian and Hindu communities have also become easy targets.
It is not just the Maslak. It is the national inability to keep one's faith a personal issue.
if only this rally had the right intention it would have been a great thing to do...just to provoke some one on a day that hold a great meaning to a particular sect is plain wrong....I am a sunni and am ashamed of my sunni fellows belonging to this this so called islamis party ASJ....there is nothing islamic about judging the other person and asking them to confirm to your beliefs...that's for Allah SWT to decide and lets leave it at that.
When we take about Roman Catholics and Protestants, we call them as Christians who commonly believe in one Jesus Christ after the God, but when we talk about Muslims than we have to take into account of people having different Maslak’s.
I have not heard in my life that Roman Catholics and the Protestants fight with each other over petty issues like Muslims are fighting in Pakistan.
What kind of Muslims are we? When we believe in one Al-Mighty Allah and on the last Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) then there is no reason for the Muslims to fight with each other over petty issues.
What Muslims in Pakistan need is to have broader vision and understanding on each others point of view with a cool mind and tolerance to have better understanding of Muslim brotherhood who follow different Maslak’s.
wow so shiite community can shut down the whole cities with countless rallies and majalis but opposing sects can't
Why would the authorities allow rival rally on such a sensitive day, on other hand, Hats off to Peace-Man (Rehman Malik) for outstanding security in Karachi
So you can take out your rally at any time and if any one else does it is wrong ?