One Killed as Shiite Protesters and Army Clash in Pakistan
Investigators Name an Al Qaeda-Linked Militant Group Chief Suspect in Shiite Mosque Bombing

By Shabbir Ahmed Mir
The Associated Press
Thursday, June 3, 2004; 9:57 AM

GILGIT, Pakistan -- Police and Shiite Muslim protesters clashed in a northern city Thursday, killing one man, while investigators named an al Qaeda-linked militant group as their chief suspect in the suicide bombing of a Shiite mosque in Karachi that triggered mass rioting.

Dozens of minority Shiites ransacked a state-run radio station and attacked other government offices in the northern city of Gilgit , during a protest against textbooks they say go against their faith.

Authorities had imposed a round-the-clock curfew to prevent the protest, fearing that tensions from Shiite-Sunni violence in the southern port city of Karachi this week would spill over into Gilgit.

The protesters, defying the order, pelted security forces with stones and opened fire, wounding two paramilitary soldiers and two policemen, a government official said on condition of anonymity.

Security forces returned fire, killing a youth and wounding two other protesters.

Police arrested eight people, including Shiite leader Agha Ziaudin.

Violence in Karachi , Pakistan 's largest city with 14 million people, erupted Sunday after gunmen assassinated a prominent Sunni Muslim cleric. A day later, a suicide bomber attacked the Shiite mosque, killing 21 people.

The attacks brought mobs of Shiite and Sunni youths to the streets, and some officials suspect the attacks were aimed at igniting sectarian unrest.

Senior police investigator Gul Hameed Sammu said the suicide bombing was similar to an attack May 7 at a Shiite mosque in Karachi that killed 22.

Police suspect that Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, a radical Sunni extremist group with members linked to al Qaeda and the murder of American journalist Daniel Pearl, was behind both bombings, he said.

EDITORIAL: The plight of the Northern Areas

The syllabus issue in Gilgit continues to hang fire. On June 3, the local administration imposed curfew in the city after clashes broke out between the police and the Shia mobs protesting the new syllabus. Earlier, a meeting between the leaders of the community and the administration had failed to break the impasse on the issue. What’s going on?

Sporadic news has been coming out of Gilgit about the syllabus problem for the past one year. We know that the Shias there are unhappy over certain passages and pictures in the officially prescribed Islamiyat textbook. But it is a measure of the failure of the mainstream press that most newspapers have not bothered to dig up the facts. Every story talks about the unrest and refers to the syllabus but no attempt has been made to provide details of what exactly is wrong with the textbook.

This is in line with the treatment we have meted out to the Northern Areas over the past four decades. The only authentic account of the area’s plight is recorded in ‘The Story of Gilgit, Batltistan and Chitral: A Short History of Two Millenniums,’ a book by Faqir Mohammad Khan who somehow found access to the archival material and put the pieces together. A similar account was published sometime ago by a former Commissioner of the area in a newspaper op-ed.

Islam came to the region in the 13th century from Wakhan and it was Ismaili Islam. Later, through the centuries, other sects have competed with the Ismailis and we now have Sunnis as well as Twelver Shias in the area. According to FM Khan’s book, today, Gilgit is 60 percent Shia, 40 percent Sunni; Hunza is 100 percent Ismaili; Nagar is 100 percent Shia; Punial is 100 percent Ismaili; Yasin is 100 percent Ismaili; Ishkoman is 100 percent Ismaili; Gup is 100 percent Ismaili; Chilas is 100 percent Sunni; Darel/Tangir is 100 percent Sunni; Astor is 90 percent Sunni, 10 percent Shia; Baltistan is 96 percent Shia; 2 percent Nurbakhti and 2 percent Sunni.

In the 1980s, the Pakistani state under Gen Zia-ul Haq made a deliberate attempt to infuse Sunni-Deobandi cadres of a sectarian party in order to put down the Shia. The problem of syllabus we now encounter in Gligit and also elsewhere is the product of the state’s enterprise of backing a particular brand of Islamic exegesis. Of course, there are other factors, not least the rampant corruption in the region by officials of the state and lack of development and employment opportunities. But the ground reality is that the area is sitting atop a time bomb and the syllabus is the trigger that could activate it. That is why it is surprising that despite the issue festering for so long the federal government has done nothing visible to address it. Now it threatens to become a law and order problem. *

EDITORIAL #2: Iraq ’s interim government should be supported

Iran ’s supreme spiritual leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has dismissed the new interim administration in Iraq . Mr Khamanei has termed the new office bearers as America ’s ‘lackeys’ and said that what is happening in Iraq proves that no government there can work without the active supervision of the clergy. Is he right?

We beg to differ. The US misadventure in Iraq has predictably gone horribly wrong and there can be no two opinions on that. However, since the deed is done, it would be wrong to rejoice over the American failure to turn Iraq around, not least because the biggest loser of American failure would not be America itself but Iraq and the Iraqis. One thing is fairly clear, given the situation in that unfortunate country: if Iraq fails to have a viable government, the country will slide back into such anarchy and bloodshed that it would make Afghanistan look like a viable state. That is why it might be relevant to hark back to Indochina and the atrocities perpetrated by the Khmer Rouge after the United States left that country in the lurch.

Surely, no right-thinking person would want a similar fate for Iraq . Thus it is important that we should not allow our dislike of current United States policies to blind us to what might happen if the present level of violence were to force the US out of there. What is required is to cure America of its hubris and we think that has been largely achieved, though the cost of that to the Iraqis is already proving to be very high. From this point onwards, for the sake of Iraq itself, it is important that the world, including the Muslim countries, should contribute in whatever manner possible to put that country back on the rails.

The present Iraqi set-up is far from being ideal; it can’t be, given the situation. But it is a beginning and we hope that President Ghazi Yawar (a Sunni) and Prime Minister Ayad Allawi (a Shia) can steer Iraq towards an acceptable constitution and elections. It is interesting to note that while Mr Khamanei has decided to condemn the interim set-up, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani has chosen to cautiously back the interim government. Al-Sistani is Iranian-born. He realises that Tehran is backing Moqtada al-Sadr, leader of the Mehdi Army who threatens to challenge the traditional authority of the Grand Ayatollahs.

Iran cannot be allowed to trouble Iraq for its own national security reasons. As far as bringing in the clergy is concerned, Mr Khamanei perhaps wants the same kind of dispensation for Iraq that has hamstrung Iranian reformers over the past decade. If Iraq does go through a democratic vote, the Shia leaders, religious and secular, will obviously win more seats on the back of ethnic dominance itself. That is okay; what is not desirable is that the system should throw up a Shia theocracy along the lines of Iran .

LD (EFE) Las autoridades han asegurado este jueves que se trata de evitar la violencia entre las comunidades musulmanas, después de que representantes chiítas manifestaran su desacuerdo con los nuevos textos, que en su opinión dan una versión exclusiva del Islam suní, al que pertenecen la mayoría de los paquistaníes. Los chiítas son 20 por ciento de los 145 millones de habitantes de Pakistán, aunque en algunos lugares, como la ciudad de Qüeta en el oeste y Cachemira, en el norte, esta comunidad es muy numerosa.

Vehículos militares recorren las calles de Gilgit y otras poblaciones del norte, donde la comunidad chiíta es muy importante, para evitar concentraciones y altercados, tras haber detenido a varios líderes religiosos de esta confesión musulmana. Los chiítas de la parte de Cachemira bajo control paquistaní tenían previsto manifestarse contra los cambios educativos, pero las autoridades prohibieron todas las concentraciones tras los últimos atentados de Karachi, que costaron la vida el domingo a un destacado clérigo suní y el lunes a 20 fieles chiítas.

Fuentes locales dijeron a EFE por teléfono desde Gilgit que grupos de  manifestantes han cortado la carretera que une Pakistán con China a través de la cordillera del Karakorum, en el Himalaya, y que los militares tratan de volver a abrir la ruta.

Disturbios entre chiíes y policías dejan un muerto en Paquistán

LASERFOTO AP /Shakil Adil

Un policía paquistaní dispersa a una enfurecida multitud que protestaba por un atentado contra una mezquita ocurrido el pasado fin de semana y que desató enfrentamientos religiosos entre musulmanes chiitas y sunitas en varios puntos del país.

Panamá, 5 de junio de 2004

ISLAMABAD, Paquistán (EFE).-Una persona murió en los enfrentamientos registrados entre manifestantes musulmanes chiíes y las fuerzas de seguridad en la ciudad de Gilgit, en la zona de Cachemira bajo control de Paquistán, informó ayer, viernes, la Policía local.

Grupos de manifestantes chiíes atacaron el jueves un centro de entrenamiento de la Policía y las instalaciones de una emisora de radio pública local.

La Policía abrió fuego contra los manifestantes cuando intentaron quemar un vehículo de la emisora y, en este incidente, una persona resultó muerta y al menos otras seis heridas.

El Ejército paquistaní mantiene el toque de queda indefinido impuesto desde la noche del miércoles en Gilgit y otras poblaciones de la región himaláyica de Cachemira, donde los chiíes protestan por una serie de cambios en los libros de formación religiosa, que consideran que sólo se atienen a la doctrina musulmana suní.

Decenas de personas, entre ellas, ocho líderes chiíes, han sido detenidas por violar el toque de queda.

Las autoridades aseguraron que se trata de evitar la violencia entre las comunidades musulmanas, después de que representantes chiíes manifestaran su desacuerdo con los nuevos textos.

Los chiíes son el 20% de los 145 millones de habitantes de Paquistán, aunque en algunos lugares, como la ciudad de Qüeta, en el oeste, y en Cachemira, en el norte, esta comunidad es muy numerosa.

Precisamente tenían previsto manifestarse ayer en Cachemira contra los cambios educativos, pero las autoridades prohibieron todas las concentraciones tras los últimos atentados de Karachi, que costaron la vida el domingo a un destacado clérigo suní y el lunes a 20 fieles chiíes.

Fuentes locales dijeron a EFE por teléfono desde Gilgit que grupos de manifestantes mantenían cortada ayer la carretera que une Paquistán con China a través de la cordillera del Karakorum, en el Himalaya, mientras los militares trataban de abrir la ruta.

34 held as Gilgit operation continues

By Ibrahim Shahid

GILGIT: The Northern Areas (NA) administration would continue its operation until miscreants were flushed out of their dens, Inspector General of Police (IGP) for the NA Sakhiullah Tareen told journalists on Friday.

“We began an operation on Friday morning in Domiyal and arrested at least 34 miscreants involved in torching the Northern Areas Legislative Council Hall, damaging Gilgit Circuit House and burnig two Northern Areas Transport Corporation vehicles besides blocking River View Road ,” the IGP said. Mr Tareen said some Army and police vehicles were also damaged when miscreants fired indiscriminately during the curfew hours.

He said talks on the syllabi issue were progressing in a positive direction. He said that according to a formula, the Shia syllabi would be taught in Shia areas and students in Sunni areas would be taught their syllabi. Mr Tareen said curfew might be relaxed today (Saturday).

Agencies add: A man was injured when Shias clashed with security forces for the second day on Friday in Gilgit, officials said.

 “A man named Bilal Hussain was brought to hospital with bullet in his thigh,” a doctor at the government hospital said.

 “Fresh reinforcements of army troops and paramilitary force have arrived in a special aircraft,” Northern Areas police chief told reporters. Around 50 tourists including four German diplomats have been stranded in Gilgit due to curfew. Efforts for their safe return to Islamabad failed due to sit-ins by demonstrators at different points on Korakorum Highway . PIA flights from Gilgit to Islamabad had also been called off in the wake of curfew.

On the other hand around 500 passengers, who were to reach Gilgit from Islamabad , are stuck at Gagot, some 50 kilometres away from Gilgit due to the curfew and protest demonstrations in the city.

Hi Pakistan , 04-06-04

GILGIT: District Magistrate has issued the following press note on the situation in Gilgit on Friday.

"Curfew that was clamped yesterday in the Municipal limits of Gilgit continued today.

Groups of youngsters, emerging out of the nearby narrow streets, again tried to further damage the VIP Rest House, Chinnar Bagh this morning. The law enforcing agencies arrested thirty three trouble makers who were mostly youngsters. In an incident of cross firing at Danyore bridge between the protesters and law enforcing agencies one person received injuries and was brought to DHQ hospital for treatment. The number of protesters gathered across the Danyore bridge since lst evening is decreasing gradually as they are going back to their respective nearby villages. Efforts are afoot to disperse them peacefully and side by side negotiations with the community elders are also going on. The KKH at Sakwar blocked yesterday has been cleared and the highway is now open for vehicular traffic between Islamabad and Gilgit.

Operation clean up jointly by the Army and Police is going on at Khomar, Nagral and Domial of Gilgit town. The administration is taking all possible measures to bring the life of the city to normal and save the lives and properties of the general public."

Woman injured, 80 arrested in Gilgit

* Curfew continues
* Draft on curriculum revision sent to Shia leader for approval

Staff Report

GILGIT: At least 80 people were arrested for curfew violations as operation against miscreants continued amid curfew in various Gilgit areas.

A woman was wounded when the protesters attacked law-enforcement officials in the Khomer area. Shahina, wife of Mohammad Ismail, was seriously wounded. “The curfew will continue due to security problems and there will be no relaxation in the curfew hours,” Home Department Secretary Saeed Ahmad Khan told a press conference.

He said a large quantity of ammunition was seized. Army jawans, he added, had sealed the area from Airport Chowk to Garrison Chowk and even police officials were not allowed there.

At least 10,000 residents of Tehsil Rondhu of Skardu District blocked the Gilgit-Skardu Road by staging a sit-in.

Mr Khan said the local administration had shifted foreign tourists to safe places under police protection. He said according to reports from Hunza Nagar, the protestors had freed 15 jawans. Mr Khan said a draft for a new textbook prepared by Northern Areas Deputy Chief Executive Fida Mohammad Khan had been sent to Shia leader Agha Ziauddin Rizvi for approval. “The syllabi change issue could be resolved through negotiations but they began demonstrations and agitation which aggravated the situation in the area.”

Mr Khan said negotiations were in progress with Shia leaders and he expressed the hope that the matter would be resolved amicably. He said nobody would be allowed to take law into his hands and law-breakers would be punished. The negotiating team consisted of Northern Areas Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker Mohammad Jaffar, advocates Altaf Hussain Muzaffar, Javed Akhtar, Maula Madad and Qurban Ali.

Curfew relaxed in Gilgit

GILGIT: Karakoram Highway and other major roads were opened and sit-in was ended by the protestors after negotiations between the Northern Areas administration and protestors over the syllabus issue, whereas curfew was also relaxed for two hours in Gilgit.

According to the Geo correspondent in Gilgit protesters and the administration officials have reached to an accord on Saturday night over the syllabus issue. The protesters have ended protest sit-in on the four major highways of the Northern Areas after the agreement.

Earlier, protesters have refused to end their sit-in till release of their leaders despite an agreement with the administration. They have lifted blockade of roads Sunday morning at 9- 00 a .m. and dispersed peacefully after a written message from their arrested leader Agha Syed Ziauddin Rizvi.

GEO, 04-06-06

Three killed in firing on curfew violaters in Pakistani northern city

GILGIT: Three people were killed in the northern Pakistani town of Gilgit Sunday when security forces opened fire on a vehicle violating a curfew imposed because of sectarian unrest, officials said.

Three people were wounded in the shooting, one of them critically, the local administration said in a press release.

"A sad incident took place in which a double-cabin pick-up tried to violate the curfew due to which the law enforcement agencies opened fire in which three people were killed while three sustained injuries," the statement said.

Gilgit, some 250 kilometers (188 miles) northwest of Islamabad, was put under 24-hour curfew on Thursday amid agitation by the Shiite Muslim community who were demanding changes to Islamic text books.

The people who were fired on were trying to leave the city and return to their homes in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) because they could not open their businesses under the curfew, one of the injured told.

"We all belong to NWFP and were heading towards our hometown as the curfew prolonged and our businesses remained shut," Abdul Qayyum said.

"We came under heavy firing by security forces, when we tried to leave the city and the driver of the vehicle ignored the call to stop," he said.

The incident raised the death toll during the unrest to four, with 10 injured.

One person was killed and seven were injured on Thursday when protesters clashed with police in Gilgit and its suburban towns, officials said.

The authorities called a two-hour break in the curfew for the first time Sunday afternoon to allow people to stock up on essential items.

Shiites, who make up some 20 percent of Pakistan's Muslims, called a mass protest on Thursday to express their anger that theology books in some schools only teach methods of prayers and other rituals followed by the Sunni majority.

Officials said the curfew was relaxed for the two-hour break after an agreement was reached that Shiite and Sunni students would have separate religious text books according to their own schools of thoughts.

The protesters ended a sit-in in some places after the accord, they said. Gilgit is known as the gateway to Pakistan's scenic mountains in the Karakoram and Himalayan ranges. Bas du formulaire