The situation in Parachinar, an Afghan city bordering the Khurram Agency of the North Western Frontier Province, and its outskirts came to a head when Pakistan Army Gunship helicopters started shelling residential areas. Parachinar city is a predominantly Shia sect area, a minority sect of Islam. It is reported that clashes started when videos of Shia Muslims being slaughtered by Mr.Laiq Hussain (Frontier Constabulary soldier) and Syed Amjad (police officer) were circulated by Taliban extremists. Taking advantage of the sectarian violence the Pakistan Army attacked those pockets which are inhabited by the Shia Sect.
During the clashes between Shia and Sunny sects more than 80 people killed within one week. On November 19, 2007 when the clashes had stopped the gunship helicopter fired missiles in Sidda, a Shia sect populated area, in which 12 people were killed. The day before yesterday (November 18), the army gunship helicopters also shelled the Imam Bargah, mosque of the Shia community, and its adjoining area in which more than three persons were killed.
The Taliban militants, with the help of law enforcement agencies have cordoned off the area and cut off the roads leading to Kohat and Dera Ismail Khan Districts of the province. The Taliban has also taken over control of Dara, the exit of the Khurram agency to other parts of the province and are checking the vehicles. If it is found that any person is of a rival sect they are compelled to denounce the sect.
The Asian Human Rights Commission condemns the sectarian killings and violence and the aerial bombardments on unarmed people by the Pakistan Army gunship Helicopters. The use of Taliban in local affairs by the authorities is alarming and may lead to mass killings due to sectarian differences. It seems that after the mass protests throughout the country against the military junta and the failure of the government to solve the constitutional crisis, the government of General Musharraf has resorted to use of the Taliban in local affairs.
Killings of this nature take place due to the absence of investigations into these killings and the complete breakdown of the criminal justice process relating to grave crimes and human rights abuses. The duty to investigate all crimes, human rights abuses and acts of violence are with the State and where the State fails to do so, there is the spread of lawlessness.
Pakistan has now become a place of lawlessness while the government claims that it is ruling under emergency regulations. Despite of the pretext of emergency regulations what has happened in Pakistan is the creation of a lawless situation in which all powerful elements can take to violence as a way of settling disputes. The government of President Musharraf itself is engaging in such violence by way of arbitrary arrests, attacks on journalists and the dismissal of Supreme Court judges by the imposition of new oaths on them which are contrary to their constitutional obligations. The constitution remains suspended and in fact all laws are suspended.
Yesterday there was also an attack by the police on journalists and there are reports of the arrests of about 168 persons. A state of violence is being deliberately maintained by the State.
While President Musharraf claims to be fighting against fundamentalists, in fact, his attack against law and order strengthens sectarianism and fundamentalism. The president’s attacks to date are basically against the forces of democracy. In the suppression of democratic forces he has to rely on the fundamentalists and others who undermine law and order. In all likelihood the continuance of the rule of President Musharraf will be a period of chaos and lawlessness.
There are no alternatives in such times but for the democratic forces to engage in their struggle to stop the agenda of the dictatorship which is concerned only in preserving the personal agenda of President Musharraf. The brave struggle that the people of Pakistan, including their lawyers and independent judges, have put up deserves the support of the international community.
