Pakistan’s Parachanar Massacre: Who is responsible – civilians or security forces

Stock of questions arises as not only banned militants disowned targeting of innocent civilians, including women and children, who were on way to home in Kurram city of Pakistan, but also the convoy was escorted by personnel of security forces. All personnel of security forces remained safe and sound, but the helpless and innocent civilians were shot and killed for undone sin.

On Friday, gunmen opened fire on convoys of Shia pilgrims, killing at least 42 people. Women and children were among the fatalities. The gunmen targeted two separate convoys traveling with police escorts from the Khurram district headquarter of Parachinar to Peshawar.

This is not the first ever incident but firing against vehicles and killings on the pretext of sectarian tension has been lingering on since a long, but the authorities concerned who are custodians of law and order in real terms are playing sectarian rather than maintaining law and order in the area.

Retired Inspector General Police, Syed Irshad Hussian Shah is right in his words that no other than state organs are involved when the innocent civilians including women and children are being killed in presence of security forces personnel.

Similarly, only people from the Shia school of thoughts have been targeted after confirmation of their identity. Hussain Shah is a noble and decent person, and he was never witnessed in such distress as he was shown in releasing the video message. He is right in his demand for a judicial inquiry into this recent massacre, but he needs to apprise him of such type of judicial inquiries results as it is always sealed and kept away from the general public.

Shia Muslims chant slogans to condemn the killing of Shia Muslims by gunmen in an ambush in Kurram district during a demonstration in Lahore, Pakistan, on Friday (November 22, 2024). (AP)

Sectarian tension in Kurram is not new or sectarian unrest is confined to this part of the country. Couple of years ago similar massacres of Shia Hazara in Quetta city of Pakistan remained routine but the Shia people came out on roads. They denounced and held no other than custodians of law and order responsible for such massacres. As a result of Shia Hazara community protests and now the situation is normal. Unless coming out on roads, forging unity amongst their ranks and getting rid of external hands and influence, people from all over Kurram would face such massacres also in future.

Sectarian and ethnic tensions are parts of a big game in Pakistan

No one can deny the fact that artificial trends of terrorism and extremism, ethnic and sectarian unrest and growing trends of extortion abs target killing are part of a great game. And the great game commence in late 70s from Afghanistan and is now in its full swing in Pakistan and rest of certain parts and parcels of Asian region. First ever sectarian clash occurred in Kurram in late 80’s when US lead allied folding back from Afghan jihad. Military dictator Ziaul Haq was in reign in that time. This first ever clash between the two sides continued for a couple of weeks and later on spread to adjacent Hangu, Kohat, Aurakzai, Dera Ismael Khan and other areas. Prior to first ever clash, almost Shia and Sunni populations remained calm and patient towards each others. But later besides direct clashes, target killing of Shia elders remained routine. Scores if families from Peshawar and other places have abandoned ancestral homes and properties and now residing ad refugees and immigrants in safe places both in and outside of the country.

Failure of socio-political leadership in Pakistan  

Civil administration and confused policies on the part of military leadership now converted the sectarian unrest into massacres of innocent and minority Shia people in Kurram. Economically, socially and politically, the Shia community of Kurram are dependent on Sunni people. The Shias are surrounded by Sunnis. The road connecting Shia dominated upper and Central Kurram is passing through Sada Town and its surrounding areas dominated by Sunnis. A large number of Sunnis are linked with hard line religious groups and in reaction, the Shias are seeking help from like minded internal and external groups.

Since the late 80’s government organs have been killing the time on constitution of jirgas and reconciliation teams for settling the issues-the issues of lands and properties disputes. But the results are very poor. In fact the civil administration lacked determinations, which enabled them to settle issues. At the moment the office of Deputy Commissioner is occupied by a junior officer who had earlier served Bara and Jamrud Tehsils as Revenue Officer but remained silent spectator to incidents of terror, target killing and extortion. Instead of wasting time and giving opportunities to both internal and external elements to exploit the situation in their favor, political leadership must play a role. It is the time to tackle the situation otherwise Kurram could be another Baluchistan in the coming few weeks.