On Thursday May 4, 2023, Six Shia Muslims were killed in Upper Kurram, northwestern Pakistan.
Four were teachers and rest two were lower staff of Teri Mangal school in Parachinar, upper part of district Kurram of province Khyber Pakhtunkhwa -KPK.
“Some unknown gunmen stormed the staff room of Teri Mengal High School in the Upper Kurram tribal district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and shot dead six people including 4 teachers and 2 lower staff on exam duty”, Police official said.
Mainstream Pakistan based media as usual obfuscated the Shia Muslim Identity of the killed persons in High School shooting incident.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1750870/5-teachers-among-8-killed-in-kurram-firing-incidents-police
“The deceased teachers were identified as Mir Hussain, Jawad Hussain, Naveed Hussain, Jawad Ali, Muhammad Ali and Ali Hussain, all of whom belonging to the Turi Bangash tribe. The teachers were performing examination duties at that time.
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2415082/eight-teachers-gunned-down-in-kurram
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1066962-seven-teachers-shot-dead-in-kps-upper-kurram-school
After just an hour of the incident a statement issued by the office of KP caretaker Chief Minister Mohammad Azam Khan attributed the killings to a property dispute.”
Federal Minister Sajid Turi cast aspersions on the assertion. “If it was a land dispute, people of a single family would be killed which is not the case in this matter,” he stated
On social media Shia Muslims from all over the Pakistan condemned the obfuscation of the Shia Muslim identity of the killed persons.
Ismail Effendi tweeted a thread:
“Omitting/obscuring the faith identity of the victims of faith-based violence, is beyond insensitive. It is like murdering the victims again. Sadly, in 2023, it is still happening with the vague, decontextualized reporting on massacre of Shia Muslim teachers in #Parachinar “
https://twitter.com/EffendiNews/status/1654151661357617153?s=20
“Violence in Shia Muslims acquired a dangerous twist since 1978 when elements within the Deep State themselves became a party 2 pogroms against Shia Muslim in Pakistan. General Zia ul Haq himself sponsored & intervened to protect #HaqNawazJhangvi whose incitement against Shias.”
https://twitter.com/EffendiNews/status/1654151664897601536?s=20
“Were being translated by #SaadAziz. He was a BBA graduate of #IBA who lead a series of terrorist attacks including the one that claimed the life of #SabeenMahmud. His terrorism also included a massacre of 50+ Ismaili Shias at Safoora Goth. Violence against Shia Muslims spiked”
https://twitter.com/EffendiNews/status/1654151668399742979?s=20
“Every time elements within the State supported Jihadis frm interconnected radical Deobandi groups like TTP/JeM/ASWJ/LeJ/Jundullah/Ahrar etc. These groups massacred an estimated 80,000 Pakistanis including 20,000 Shias. Innocent Victims were from all faith groups in Pakistan”
https://twitter.com/EffendiNews/status/1654151672371740673?s=20
Including Sunni Muslims from both Barelvi & Deobandi sects. As well as Hindus, Ahmadis, Christians & Sikhs. Unfortunately the media often misrepresented this one-sided violence by radical groups in terms of False Binaries. Another Dilution tactic was to hide the faith ID of
https://twitter.com/EffendiNews/status/1654151677706903553?s=20
“Through some fake social Ids, Propaganda was started to deflect the public attention from real cause behind the shooting in the high school in Parachinar:
https://twitter.com/SocialScoopPk/status/1654459795728891908?s=20
Huma Rights defender, Asad Raza tweeted:
“Not the first time Shias have been identified, singled out & then murdered for having ‘Ali’ and ‘Hussain’ in their names. From Chillaas to Gilgit to #Parachinar. Doctors, lawyers, teachers .. The soil of Pak has endured the loss of countless bright futures.”
https://twitter.com/asadgokal/status/1654200962502873111?s=20
Riaz Ali Turi, Veteran Political worker of PPP, tweeted that:
Deeply shocked to know that 7 Shia teachers brutally killed in atrack on school in Teri Mangal area of my hometown District Kurra. Act of brutality is aimed at fueling sectarianian clashes in area.
Deeply shocked to know that 7 Shia teachers brutally killed in atrack on school in Teri Mangal area of my hometown District Kurra. Act of brutality is aimed at fueling sectarianian clashes in area. We urge @GovtofPakistan & @OfficialDGISPR to take immediate notice. #Parachinar pic.twitter.com/lV9idbj0Td
— Riaz Ali Turi (@RiazToori) May 4, 2023