Minority concerns: ‘Dera Shias mulling new political party’

Shia leader says govt apathetic towards his community’s plight.

TAUNSA:

Shia community in Dera Ghazi Khan is considering the feasibility of contesting next general elections and may form a new political party for the purpose instead of supporting one of the groups, Allama Sajid Naqvi said on Monday. He was speaking to the media in Taunsa. 

He said the proposal was still being discussed amongst community elders. A final decision would be announced after consultation was complete.

Naqvi said with the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal unable to reorganise the community was left with no option but to consider forming a new political party. “The Shia community does not want to join the Defence of Pakistan Council supported by some banned militant outfits,” he said. He said his community was disappointed with the apathetic attitude of the government following recent incidents of terrorism against Shias. “The government is providing protocol to criminals held in prisons instead of punishing them for their crimes,” Naqvi said.

He complained that instead of cracking down on banned militant outfits operating in the province the government had taken four members of the shia community into custody following the Alipur incident. He demanded that these four people be released immediately.

Naqvi said if the government continued to ignore the activities of militant outfits, the latter would be emboldened and eventually start challenging the government. “To maintain its legitimacy, the government needs to strengthen the country’s economy and address the grievances of the people,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 24^th, 2012.