Finally, the Khan speaks out
Last week, I had written about the recent Shia killings – wondering aloud how such an issue could be overlooked by the politicians and judiciary who instead chose to focus on matters so trivial that it was appalling to see the complete disregard for precious human lives.
Where MQM Chief Altaf Hussain had condemned the killings and called for action against the atrocities, his voice was lost amongst the sheer silence of other political leaders who remained mum on the issue. However, on Sunday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan was the first politician in the country to finally speak up on the recent killings and brought in focus the judiciary’s sheer apathy on the violence.
Call him over-ambitious, criticize his blurry policies and accuse him of living in a fantasy world, but give him credit for finally taking a stand and asking Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry to take suo motu notice of Shia killings across the country. What impact his call for justice will have is yet to be seen but the development nonetheless, cannot be ignored considering the gross silence prevailing otherwise.
Pakistan has recorded at least 2,642 sectarian attacks, killing 3,963 people since 1989, according to the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP) database. Those targeted are no longer personalities of prominence or popularity – they are the common men. The Shia common men – who apparently aren’t important enough in the eyes of the PPP-led government which continues to carry on with its own agenda that seems to revolve more around acquiring wealth and votes than securing the country.
During his visit to Skardu, Khan called for the government to resign if it could not protect the citizens – wishful thinking on his part though, because no amount of humiliation and failures could make this government resign. However, once again, Khan’s statements, visits and call for justice were a step in the right direction – especially for someone looking to lead a country and not just a specific religious sect belonging to it. It would also help if Khan perhaps insisted a little less on how this is not completely ‘our war’, considering the killings taking place are mainly in KP and Balochistan where militancy is widespread and where most law enforcement agencies are operating. Repeating the rhetoric about whose war this is will not end the killings – only immediate action against the perpetrators can put an end to this brutality.
The call for justice could be made stronger and louder if other political parties joined him here regardless of conflicting views they may have on other issues – the stance on targeting human lives, be it whatever sect or religion they belong to, should be uniformed: no tolerance.
The judiciary needs to do its part here by realising that nothing can be more urgent than securing the lives of people of Pakistan. Label the killings as you please but fact remains that they are barbaric and horrific and if the government leaders are falling short in providing security to the citizens, it should be the Chief Justice’s duty to take his favourite kind of notice – this time for something that urgently needs it.
The writer is the Deputy Editor at Dawn.com
Every institution in Pakistan is asking the chief justice do everything. Pretty soon general Kayani will ask the chief justice to take suo moto to take back all of Kashmir.
what about the arrest of 8 Shia target killers in 2010, who got trained in kurrum agency and they accepted killings of 18 Sunnis including Sunnis doctors, police officers and clerics?
And they used to get paid monthly, and many groups like this is still out there.
Please dont blame everything on Taliban.
Mr.Sunni, if any Mr.Shia started writing what about the killing of this doctor, that lawer, professor, judge and so on so forth (all highly educated & well placed shias), then list will be very long. You will not be able to justify or reply. So leave this what about this & that. Every innocent life is precious, so let us do every thing to protect a common man from extremist / terrorists.
Please come forward to condemn shia killers. Let us agree that whoever kills an innocent person either shia or a sunni, he is an enemy of Pakistan & Islam. All religious hate mongers and kufr fatwas about different sects of Islam are part of the problem. Please agree to it, no more what about this & what about that.
Khan always talks sense
Dont say that,he himself has never said it
Yep Non-sense!
For every issue we are asking supreme court to take suo motu notice.When it does then present government & other liberals start screaming judicial dictatorship. It is the duty of the executive to remedy the present horrific killing of Shias. The law & order situation has hit rock bottom. As far as Altaf Hussain, he is beating the drum while comfortably living in London. Imran K is a lonely voice . What impact will his protest have ? A collective protest in the street from civil society including lawyers might work.Pakistan is heading toward an implosion.
It is very unfortunate, but you are right
If we take our religions out of the National Assembly and become one family as Pakistani, I think we can solve our problem.
Shyema: comma overuse
what about the killings of Sunni Scholars ?
Which Sunni scholars have been killed in the last one year. Give me some links
Come on have a heart, search your soul and say who is killing whom. Neither shias are killing sunis nor vice verse, the killers have no religion, no faith, they are non believers and animals. To call them humans is insult to humanity, join hands to achieve peace and tranquility and that will be possible when we shun hatred and start loving other humans, tolerate others opinion as every one has A RIGHT TO HAVE OPINION but no one should try to impose his opinion on others. Our miseries are mostly self created and we are the ones to solve our problems.
You must be aware of “two cats found a piece of bread and were fighting for ownership, a monkey appeared and said he would do justice, to which cats agreed, the monkey tore bread into two pieces deliberately one bigger one smaller and balance that he eat portion from the bigger one to make it smaller, now the other piece was bigger and in that process the monkey ate the entire bread and said this is the justice for you, that cats were morose but realization was too late”.
Lets wake up and realise who is doing all this to us under what aims and objectives.
To defeat this unity in ranks is a must.
A separate article should be written for this topic. Yes we need to discuss that who killed mufti Naeemi in Lahore, who killed sunni tehrek whole leadership in Eid-e-miladunnabi congregation in Karachi. Why eminent sunni scholar Javed Ghamdi has left Pakistan. Who is doing bomb blast at sunni shrines in all over Pakistan. A complete article is needed to discuss this issue.
But please join here to condemn shias genocide / indiscrimine killing.
In this time of Pakistan who care of minorities. Politicians are busy in securing their seats and agencies are protecting us from the unseen. We need to decide whether we are Pakistani first or Shias first or any other minority. Until country is divided in Sunnis, Shias, Ahmadies, Parsis, Deobandis,Brelvies, Wahhabis, Ahle Sunit, Tablighis, Balochi, Sindhi, Punjabi and Pathans, there is no end to any kind of violence. How we can unite just as Pakistanis?
All these issues are not created this era ,we must implement a beutiful democracy and strong forign poliecy then resolve all the issues .
Beautiful Democracy is for civilized people and educated politicians. In current state of our state, this dream does not look like it will ever come to a reality.
By the time we reach that beautiful democracy, hopefully Saadia, you will have matured.
Wonder how imran khan be the first politition if altaf Hussein has been shouting ( literally ) about this for some time. (shakes his head in wonder)
“first politician in the country to finally speak out” – IN THE COUNTRY being the key words here….
Its time we outlaw party leadership for dual citizens …
Err… Altaf is not clean either. Then again who is?
A women committed adultery. The elders of the tribe ordered to punish her by throwing stones till she dies. Some resisted thinking that the punishment was too harsh. The matter was refered to Jesus. He agreed that the women should be punished the way the elders have ordered, but, the first stone would be thrown by the one who did not commit the same sin.
Mr. Clean to Pakistan mein shayed hi koi ho mere bhai. Jo sab se kam ganda hey usi per guzara karna parega.
Strenghten the police and Judiciary and make them truly independent. Need an oversignt department, call it DOJ – Department of Justice which investigates and prosecutes white collar crime. Most of the terrorists are now part of the mainstream political parties, so either we can keep kidding ourselves or recognise that people who have been in power (Centre and Provinces) for the last few years are the real enemy. Once honest people are in place on merit, all other issues will come in line in due course.
khan is right in what he said. the solutions to this problem are multi-layered. a revamp in education and society is needed to address the probem. the killers are fearless of police and law. the world around them needs to be changed to stop the killings.
The plight of our country is due to utter lack of governance from all stake holders – PPP, MQM, ANP PMLQ, N, F, (all the other factions). These people are trying to build their empire by selling people’s blood. Dont forget what happened to Saddam, Qaddafi, ZA Bhutto, Zia, Benazir Bhutto.. They all tried to hide the truth for their own benefit. Look where are they all today!
Irfan: in 65 years who cared and learned lessons from past mistakes. The people you mentioned are dead and gone and there will be more to take their place my friend.The victims will always be the poor people.
But then we get what we vote for?????
a political move to gain the confidence of shai community perhaps? neverthless it’s good that he spoke out finaly.
Well I think all the political parties and even more so the government can follow suit if it was a priority for them. A murderer is a murderer no matter who he is or what sect he is from. Hang them all as a warning to others.
Finaly, the Khan Speaks Out.” Thanx God, May Allah give all political leaders this courage to speak out including Chief Justice to take suo moto action.
I just don’t understand this “suo moto” mantra at all! OK, the CJ takes suo moto action…… then what? Do you seriously believe he can MAKE government do ANYTHING? Or will his suo moto action be able to enlighten the beasts bent upon destroying the society?
NO, IT WILL SHOW ONLY THAT CJ THINKS RIGHT.
yes. this is becoming a matter for the CJP (not SC) to show some consistency.
finally!!!
I salute Dawn and its staff for just cause.As every body knows dawn was founded by
our beloved leader Muhammad Ali Jinah quide azam.
keep up your good work and save the humanity in pakistan.
expose the leaders who are silent.