Shia Muslims in Gilgit-Baltistan are having a very tough time freely practicing their religion since the contentious Pakistan Criminal Laws (Amendments)Act Bill 202s was passed by the both houses of the Parliament in Pakistan.
A case has just been filed against Maulana Baqir Al Hussaini, the president of Anjuman Imamia Baltistan, in the city police station Skardu under the guise of this contentious bill.
On Thursday and Friday hundreds of thousands Shi’a protesters held big rallies in Gilgit-Baltistan against the registration of FIR under blasphemy laws against the Shi’a clerics.
Shiite Protest in Skardu
Chilas, Kohistan and Diamar are hotbeds of hatred and “no-go areas” for the Shia of Pakistan, especially Gilgit-Baltistan- Shi’a organizations
Local police official Shafiq Gul told AFP that the gunmen were masked, but said the victims were pulled from three separate vehicles in the district, which neighbours the Swat valley, a former Taliban stronghold. “They stopped three vehicles, searched them and picked up people in three batches of five, six and nine and shot them dead. They were all Shiites,” he said.
The FIR filed in the City Skardu police station states that (Maulvi Farman Ali Deobandi) the general secretary of Tanzeem-e-Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat- Gilgit-Baltistan had submitted the application for registration of a case under Blasphemy Laws.
image of FIR on Agha Syed Baqir Al-Hussaini , President of Anjuman-e-Imamia- Photo by https://pamirtimes.net/
In the complaint submitted to Police Station City Skardu, the petitioner claimed:
The president of Anjuman Imamia, while giving a speech against the Pakistan Criminal Laws Act 2022, insulted the honor of Sayyidna Abu Sufyan and Sayyidna Ameer Muawiya and used foul language.
Shiite Muslims do not regard Abu Sufiyan and Muawiya as being sacred and don’t include them in the true companions of the holy Prophet of Islam Muhammad Peace Be Upon Him. They reject whole Banu Umayyad.
Allama Syed Baqir Alhussaini, the president of Anjuman-e-Imamia Skardu, claims that during his address at a protest demonstration against the contentious Pakistan Criminal Laws (Amendments) Act Bill 2022, he did not engage in any act of blasphemy. But he had previously stated that he did not appreciate individuals who were hostile to the family of Islam’s holy prophet.
File Photo of Allama Syed Baqir Al-Hussaini , President of Anjuman-e-Imamia Skardu
Al-Hussaini continued,
“Maulvi Farman Wali had falsely accused me of blaspheming the Companions and demanded the police to register a case right away. In the event that the FIR was not registered, he threatened to kill Shiites traveling through Gilgit-Baltistan on the Karakoram Highway.”
It is important to keep in mind that ten years ago, Shia passengers were violently shot in the head after getting off buses traveling from Rawalpindi to Skardu at Chalas and Kohistan after their identity cards were inspected. A video of this cruel deed was created and circulated on social media.
Shi’a Muslims who reside in Pakistan are subject to legal and physical persecution for following their faith, including blasphemy lawsuits that have been filed against them. To make laws against blasphemy stricter and punishing towards Shi’a Muslims and other religious minorities, amendments are being suggested.
Read More: https://shiamuslimgenocide.com/parliament-legalized-the-shia-persecution/
