It is imperative to address the dire situation concerning the targeted killings against Shia Muslims in Pakistan. With an estimated 40 million Shia Muslims comprising approximately 20 percent of the country's population, the pervasive history of brutality against Shia community traces back to 1979. Throughout the 1980s, extremist factions such as Sipah e Sahaba (SSP) and Lashkar e Jhangvi (LeJ) emerged with the explicit aim of eradicating the Shia population from Pakistan. Despite governmental bans, these groups persist under alternate guises, propagating hateful ideologies and inciting violence against Shias and other religious minorities. Their barbaric actions range from orchestrating targeted killings of individuals to desecrating holy sites, creating an atmosphere of fear and insecurity that demands immediate international attention.
The acts of terrorism witnessed in the past few days, months and years have been extensively documented are not isolated incidents, but emblematic of a systemic pattern of discrimination, persecution and maltreatment that demands immediate intervention and cessation. It is crucial to shed light on these egregious violations, and it is incumbent upon us to fervently advocate for the protection and preservation of the fundamental rights and safety of all Pakistani citizens. The urgency of this matter cannot be overstated, and concerted efforts must be undertaken to address and rectify the grave injustices being perpetrated against the Shia community in Pakistan.
The targeted persecution of Shia Muslims in Pakistan is not merely a series of isolated violent acts, but rather a systematic and sustained campaign of genocide that has persisted for decades. Independent reports, such as those compiled by Human Rights Watch (HRW), document the brutal killing of over 23,000 Shia Muslims since 1963, with victims ranging from doctors, students, and lawyers to religious scholars and other prominent members of the Shia community. These killings are not random but are part of a larger, coordinated effort by extremist groups like Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ), Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Da’esh (ISIS), and Sipah-e-Sahabah to eradicate or severely diminish the Shia Muslim population in the country.
The June 2015 HRW report, “We Are the Walking Dead: Killing of Shias in Pakistan,” provides chilling firsthand accounts that underscore the systematic nature of the violence and the deep-rooted anti-Hazara sentiment within extremist factions. The report highlights the explicit threats made by LeJ against the Shia community, stating: "All Shias are liable to be killed. We will rid Pakistan of these impure people." These statements are not merely expressions of hatred—they constitute a clear and unequivocal declaration of intent to commit genocide. According to Article 2 of the Genocide Convention 1948 and Article 6 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), genocide is defined as acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group. The ongoing pattern of violence against Shia Muslims, the targeting of civilians based on their religious identity, and the glorification of these acts by extremist factions meet the legal criteria for genocide.
It is non-negotiable that militant organisations such as Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Tehreek-e-Taliban, Daesh, and Sipah-e-Sahabah be dismantled, disarmed, and held fully accountable
What exacerbates this dire situation is the climate of impunity in which these extremist groups operate. Despite being responsible for thousands of killings, heads of groups like Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) continue to hold positions of influence, often while in custody awaiting trial. This lack of accountability is not an oversight; it is a complicit failure by the Pakistani state to take meaningful action against these groups. The Pakistani government’s failure to uphold its obligations under the Genocide Convention and the Rome Statute enables these violent factions to continue their campaign of terror without fear of retribution.
This is not solely a domestic issue; it is a matter of international concern. As a signatory to both the Genocide Convention and the Rome Statute, Pakistan has an Erga Omnes and Jus Cogens obligation to prevent genocide and ensure accountability for those who incite or carry out such acts. The continued failure of the Pakistani state to act will not only allow the genocidal campaign to persist but will also undermine the global commitment to prevent genocide and protect human dignity. If the international community stands by without intervening, it risks signalling that such commitments are meaningless in the face of state complicity and inaction.
The genocide committed in Gaza and the simultaneous suffering of Shias in Pakistan is deeply troubling, and Pakistan's denunciation of the diabolical Israeli regime is admirable. However, it is imperative to confront domestic injustices without hypocrisy, and stop the glaring double standards when it comes to safeguarding your own citizens. It is unconscionable to turn a blind eye to the systemic inequalities and suffering endured by minority groups in Pakistan. One must condemn these injustices with the same fervour and urgency as any other egregious human rights violation around the world.
The sheer silence from the authorities and inability to provide protection and justice for the citizens who belong to minority sections, religions or ethnicities is also violation of its other international legal obligations; most prominently, its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), under Articles 2.1, 6, 6.1, 9.1, 10.1, 18, 19, and 27 which require the state to guarantee and ensure the rights to life, freedom of conscience, religion, expression, and association, to profess and practice respective religions, and the rights of minorities.
The legal framework within the Pakistan Penal Code encompasses provisions termed as 'blasphemy clauses', which render it a criminal offense to deliberately offend individuals or show disrespect towards sacred figures within Islam. Regrettably, these laws have been exploited to target mostly members of the Shia Muslims, who now face baseless accusations and malicious prosecution under the guise of blasphemy. This disgusting practice demands immediate attention and action, as it poses a grave threat to the fundamental rights and freedoms of these marginalised communities.
On July 22, 2020, the Punjab Assembly passed a bill called the 'Tahaffuz Bunyad Islam Bill', aimed at safeguarding the religious sentiments of one sect while potentially marginalising religious minorities. This bill has sparked concerns about the government's authority over religious matters and has raised fears of growing intolerance towards minorities. In the view of the Shia community the bill is draconian and a result of pressure from anti-Shia groups in power.
In 2021, there was a shocking and alarming escalation in the malicious prosecution of Shia Muslims under the notorious blasphemy laws. This disturbing wave of legal persecution began on August 30th, during the annual Ashura procession in Karachi, when the individual organising the procession and the speaker reciting Ziyarat-e-Ashura—a prayer denouncing the murderers of Imam Hussain (AS), the revered grandson of Prophet Muhammad (SAW)—were both falsely accused of blasphemy. As if this were not egregious enough, a three-year-old child in Punjab was charged with blasphemy merely because they were listed as the organiser of a religious gathering in a private home. The absurdity and cruelty didn’t end there: numerous other Shia Muslims were implicated for nothing more than performing Muharram rituals in the privacy of their own homes. These actions are not just an assault on individual freedoms, but a flagrant violation of basic human rights and an abuse of the legal system itself.
Furthermore, young Shia individuals faced blasphemy charges for criticising members of the banned terror group SSP. Hundreds were detained for participating in another religious procession (Arbaeen) across the nation. According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, over 40 blasphemy cases were filed against Shias between August and early September. These cases not only expose the deep-seated anti-Shia sentiment permeating society, but also reveal the systematic exploitation of the legal system to unjustly target, criminalise, and silence an entire community. The weaponisation of blasphemy laws is not just an affront to justice, but an orchestrated effort to crush religious freedom and perpetuate fear.
The issue of enforced disappearances in Pakistan looms as a paramount concern. As per the 2019 report from the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), approximately 140 Shia Muslims have been reported as 'missing' since 2018. The year 2021 witnessed the abduction of five journalists from the Shia community. In some instances, members of the Shia community, returning to Pakistan after pilgrimages to holy sites in Iran, Iraq, and Damascus, have been subject to illegal abductions by security agencies in nocturnal raids. These individuals endure protracted mental and physical torment without formal charges, leaving their families in a relentless quest for their whereabouts. Community members should fervently urge authorities to present evidence against the abductees and halt these arbitrary arrests.
The widespread anti-Shia demonstrations, featuring hate speech and calls for purge against the community, have taken place throughout the country, with large gatherings occurring in Karachi, Islamabad, and Multan. Many have advocated for the declaration of Shia Muslims as 'infidels' in the Constitution of Pakistan, 1973 and have pledged to socially boycott and harm Shia individuals. These actions blatantly violate Articles 9, 10, 14, 17, 19, 20, 22, 37, and 25 of the Constitution, including those guaranteeing religious freedom and the right to life. It is incumbent upon the Federal, Provincial, and Local Governments to take preventive measures and to punish such violations of constitutionally protected fundamental rights.
Extremists have leveraged social media platforms, such as Twitter and Facebook, to disseminate their messages of hatred and incitement against specific communities. In September, the recurring appearance of '#Kafir Kafir Shia Kafir' was noted in the top trending multiple times. On should urge social media corporations to diligently oversee the proliferation of hate speech on their platforms and deactivate accounts that consistently promote violence and animosity. Deplorably, the security infrastructure and authorities in Pakistan have been ineffective in ensuring the safety and fundamental rights of the targeted Shia community. This raises concerns about the government's ability and willingness to uphold its constitutional obligations and ratified international human rights treaties in protecting vulnerable groups such as the Hazara and Shia Muslims from destabilising forces.
The Pakistani government must take immediate and decisive action to protect Shia Muslim communities across the country, ensuring their safety and well-being. It is imperative that authorities thoroughly investigate and prosecute those responsible for these heinous attacks, without exception. This must include taking strong action against individuals and groups that incite violence, spread hate, or promote sectarian division, regardless of their political or religious affiliations including state officials who may be complicit in such activities. It is non-negotiable that militant organisations such as Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Tehreek-e-Taliban, Daesh, and Sipah-e-Sahabah be dismantled, disarmed, and held fully accountable for their widespread violations of human rights and their role in fomenting violence. Religion must never be politicised, and any groups that exploit religious differences to sow discord must be eradicated, with zero tolerance for their actions.
Moreover, the government must step forward and provide immediate and substantial financial support for the victims and their families. This should cover education, medical expenses, and family care for those whose lives have been shattered by violence. The state has a moral and legal obligation to ensure that these victims receive the care, justice, and protection they deserve. There can be no delay, no equivocation—this is a matter of urgent and fundamental human rights.
The failure to shield the Shia community in Pakistan is an indelible stain on our moral conscience, reminiscent of the heart-wrenching events in Karbala 1,400 years ago. In a haunting echo of history, just as support for the Ahle Bait (A.S) – (Family of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW), was lacking then, it is disheartening to witness the meagre evolution of support for their present-day followers, the Shias. It is absolutely crucial for each and every one of us to passionately decry the unspeakable atrocities that persist, relentlessly demanding justice and equity.
The deafening silence and inaction from those wielding power not only betray the Shia community in Pakistan but also cast a dark shadow on our collective humanity. Pakistan finds itself at a pivotal moment where it must urgently unite in a chorus of condemnation against the ongoing Shia genocide in Parachinar as well as nationwide, fervently urging accountability for those responsible. The era of silence and apathy has long overstayed its welcome, and the failure to take immediate action perpetuates a harrowing cycle of violence and persecution.