‘Will merge with India’: Gilgit protests arrest of Shia cleric over blasphemy 

Massive protests have damaged out within the Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan area over the arrest of a Shia cleric below Pakistan’s strengthened blasphemy legal guidelines. The protests are mentioned to be the biggest that the area has ever seen, with slogans of “Chalo, chalo Kargil chalo” rending the air.

Local leaders in Gilgit warned the Pakistan administration of a civil struggle and a few even went on to demand a merger with India.

The protests by Skardu residents broke out after Shia cleric Agha Baqir al-Hussaini was booked and arrested over his feedback at a spiritual gathering.

Agha Baqir al-Hussaini was booked for his remarks at an ulema council assembly in Skardu that was held to debate Pakistan making its blasphemy legal guidelines stricter, apparently to focus on the Shia neighborhood. The Shia and the Sunni share the identical primary tenets of Islam, however Shias don’t idolise Islamic figures who opposed the fourth Caliph, Ali.

Pakistan is a Sunni-majority nation however Shias kind a sizeable chunk of the inhabitants in Gilgit-Baltistan. Starting with Gen Zia-Ul Haq’s regime, successive Pakistan governments have tried to vary the demographic composition of Gilgit-Baltistan by transferring Sunnis into the area.

LATEST SHIA PROTESTS IN GILGIT

The Gilgit-Baltistan area is administratively divided into three divisions — Baltistan, Diamer and Gilgit. The fundamental administrative centres are the cities of Gilgit and Skardu.

Though there is no such thing as a protection of the protests in Gilgit within the Pakistani media, movies and accounts have emerged on social media, indicating the dimensions of the agitation. This, too, is just a trickle, since most of it can’t be verified.

This is a results of the Pakistani institution’s grip over communications within the occupied area.

According to accounts on X (previously Twitter), the preliminary protests had been by Sunnis on August 22 in search of the arrest of Agha Baqir al-Hussaini. They blocked the Karakoram Highway, the lifeline that hyperlinks the mountainous area to Pakistan.

The protests had been in Daimer, the place Sunnis are within the majority.

Countering these protests and the arrest of cleric al-Hussaini, Shias have been taking out protests, movies of which are actually circulating on X.

Protesters will be heard chanting slogans in opposition to Pakistan and its Army chief General Asim Munir.

Videos additionally present native leaders saying that if the highway remained blocked, individuals wouldn’t go to Punjab (of Pakistan) or Sindh, however to Kargil. A reference to the merging of Gilgit with India. They additionally warned of a civil struggle if their calls for to launch al-Hussaini and the unblocking of the freeway weren’t met.

Videos counsel the biggest protests to have taken place in Shia-dominated Skardu city. The hashtag GilgitBaltistan has been trending.

There have additionally been posts on X (previously Twitter) claiming the movies to be doctored. Some declare that the movies are of Shia protesters who even have been labeled as Sunnis.

But what can reliably mentioned is there have been considerations and protests over al-Hussaini, who has stood by his remarks. The set off of the protests is Pakistan’s blasphemy legal guidelines and the basis trigger is the neglect of the occupied territory by Pakistan.

PAKISTAN’S BLASPHEMY LAWS TARGET MINORITIES

Pakistan strengthened its already strict blasphemy legal guidelines in January, extending them to punish anyone who offended individuals linked to Prophet Muhammad.

The modification now lists as against the law insult directed on the companions of the Prophet Muhammad, which incorporates many early Muslims. One of them is Yazid, the bone of competition right here.

Al-Hussaini allegedly cursed Yazid, son of Muawiya, in his speech that led to the blasphemy expenses in opposition to him.

Hussain (the grandson of Prophet Mohammed) was killed within the Battle of Karbala on the orders of Yazid.

While Sunnis revere all companions of the Prophet, Shias don’t have the identical reverence for figures like Yazid, as a result of they commemorate the martyrdom of Hussain within the month of Moharram. The purpose Moharram turns into contentious in areas the place Shias and Sunnis cohabit.

Recently, in Pakistan, the minimal sentence for individuals who disparage famend figures of Islam has been elevated below the amended regulation from three to 10 years in jail and a nice of 1 million Pakistani rupees. The most extreme penalty, which makes blasphemy against the law that can not be launched on bail, is a life sentence.

The blasphemy legal guidelines had earlier been amended to focus on Ahmadis, who had been already declared non-Muslims.

Human rights activists are frightened concerning the potential persecution of minority teams, particularly Shia Muslims who’ve damaging views of some early Muslims.

Due to Pakistan’s historical past of abusing these legal guidelines, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan voiced concern that new modifications would unfairly abuse minorities and factions. This might lead to unjustified accusations, abuse, and tyranny.

These considerations have come true. Recent assaults on church buildings and acts of mob violence in Faisalabad illustrate the propensity of mobs to make use of the regulation to punish accused blasphemers. The Pakistani authorities ignores this kind of vigilante assaults.

Now that the disputed area of Gilgit-Baltistan is up in arms in opposition to the Pakistani institution, the faultlines in society have solely widened.

Published On:

Aug 31, 2023