DG Khan’s Shia community considers testing ballot power

Community leader says new coalition to contest next general elections to be announced after extensive consultations.

TAUNSA: Fed up by what they call the government’s lack of support, the Shia community in Dera Ghazi Khan is considering contesting the next general elections through a separate platform.

“The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal does not seem to be regrouping and we cannot join Difa-i-Pakistan Council as it has been encouraging banned militant religious organisations,” Shia leader Allama Sajid Ali Naqvi said on Monday, talking to reporters in DG Khan’s Taunsa sub-district. He said that in support of a democratic transition, they will contest elections from the platform of an ‘Islamic movement’. “After community consultation, we will put forward a new coalition.”

He said that it appeared as if the government was more interested in providing protocol to criminals in prisons and securing them, instead of punishing them for their crimes. “After the Alipur incident, the Punjab government should have stopped (banned militant organisation Lashkar-e-Jhangvi chief) Malik Ishaq but they decided to arrest members of the Shia community.” He said that four Shia people had been arrested in the case, who must be immediately released.

If these terrorists are not rounded up, they will become a rope around the government’s own neck, said Naqvi. “Terrorists will gain ground in Pakistan because the government is least bothered with creating a vibrant economy that can address the grievances of the people.”