TIMERGARA, Jan 12: Central chief executive of National Commission for Interfaith Harmony and Human Rights Chaudhry Qamar Zaman has said that involvement of foreign hand could not be ruled out in killing of Shias of Hazara and bomb explosion at Tablighi markaz in Swat.

Speaking at a meeting of the commission at Sarai Talash on Saturday, he said that the recent attacks were a part of well-planned conspiracy to destabilise Pakistan. He said that promotion of interfaith harmony was the only tool that could end sectarian and ethnic strife in the country.

The commission’s national chairman, Dr Javed Iqbal Rana, Malakand division organiser Noor Gul Islam and Lower Dir chairman Noor Mohammad also spoke on the occasion.

Mr Zaman said that international players had been fanning the flames of sectarian and ethnic violence in Pakistan. “These powers want to divide the nation on the basis of sects, language and geography,” he said.

He claimed that some of the nationalists in Sindh and Balochistan had been playing in the hands of foreign elements and campaigning for separation.

Earlier, Noor Mohammad was elected as district chairman of the commission in Lower Dir, Lateef Khan as president and Amjad Ali Khan as its general secretary. Mr Zaman administered them oath of their offices.  —Correspondent

Opinion

Editorial

Sustainable path?
Updated 13 Jun, 2026

Sustainable path?

The FY27 budget is the first clear signal that the government is ready to transition from stabilisation to growth.
Prioritising education
13 Jun, 2026

Prioritising education

THOUGH the improvement in the country’s literacy rate may be slight, as highlighted by the Economic Survey, it ...
Poverty’s rise
13 Jun, 2026

Poverty’s rise

AS attention turns to the government’s plans for the coming fiscal year, one set of figures deserves particular...
A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...