Extremism Watch

Extremism Watch

Jinnah Institute's weekly roundup of incidents of religious extremism in Pakistan as reported by the local media
(April 2 - 8)
 ISLAMABAD
April 3: Sectarian unrest boils over in Gilgit-Baltistan

Authorities clamped a curfew in the Gilgit-Baltistan region and called out the army after 16 people were killed and dozens wounded in one of the worst incidents of sectarian violence in the region. Clashes erupted between Shia and Sunni communities after masked motorcyclists attacked a rally staged by the G-B chapter of Ahle Sunnat wal Jamaat (ASWJ) to protest the detention of one of its leaders. According to witnesses, when protesters reached near the Gari Bagh neighbourhood of Gilgit city, masked motorcyclists hurled a hand grenade at them, resulting in five deaths and many injuries. According to some witnesses the grenade was thrown by an Elite Force policeman at the protesting crowd.

When the news of the grenade attack reached the Sunni-majority Chilas town, a vengeful mob burnt passenger buses and shot members of the Shia community. Officially, 10 deaths were confirmed in Chilas – while many more were injured.

Over 250 Shias were also taken hostage in Chilas. However, later in the evening they were handed over to the G-B administration. As the violence continued back-and-forth, at least 20 people working in Nagar town were reportedly abducted and shifted to unidentified locations by the locals. (Express Tribune)

April 3: Two people shot dead in Quetta



Two people were shot dead by unidentified assailants in what appeared to be an incident of sectarian violence. Sources said the attackers, armed with sophisticated weapons, barged into a medical store and shoe shop on Mecangi Road and opened fire. The two victims – Akbar Ali and Ali Raza – received bullets injuries and died instantly. The assailants fled on a motorbike. Akbar Ali and Ali Raza were residents of Alamdar Road, an area mostly inhabited by members of the Hazara community. Relatives of the deceased said the two victims belonged to Gilgit-Baltistan. (Daily Times)

April 3: Three shot dead in sectarian attacks in Karachi



A clearing and forwarding agent, a CNG station manager and a young scout were killed in different parts of the city in different incidents of targeted sectarian attacks. Syed Naseem Abbas Naqvi, 35, was gunned down in front of a homoeopathic medicine market across the Dow Medical College at around 9am, informed a duty officer of the Arambagh police station. Tension gripped parts of the Rizvia area following the incident and gunfire compelled traders to pull down shutters.

A CNG station manager was shot dead in Nazimabad. Asghar Jafri, 50, was targeted under the Nazimabad flyover, said Liaquatabad Division SP Noman Siddiqui. The SP said he was returning from the CNG station located in SITE when he was sprayed with bullets. He sustained five gunshot wounds and succumbed to his injuries en route to the the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.

A 35-year-old man was shot dead in Gulistan-i-Jauhar. The police said Sajid Husain, 35, was associated with a drug peddling gang of Mudassir Chief and was targeted by members of a political party active in the Pehlwan Goth area. However, a spokesman for the Shia Rabita Council said the victim was a member of Al Hussainia Scout group and was targeted on sectarian grounds. (Dawn)

April 4: Girls school bombed in Nowshera

A girls’ school was blown up in Taru Jaba area of Nowshera district. Waqar Khan from the Pabbi police station said that suspected militants scaled the boundary wall of the school and planted a device which exploded at 4pm. There were no casualties as nobody was present when the explosion occurred. The explosion destroyed the school’s windows and doors, while the roof and walls developed cracks. The watchman of the school has been arrested for his absence. (Express Tribune)

April 4: Bid to bomb school foiled in Lakki Marwat

The local police thwarted a terror plan by defusing a home-made bomb planted in a school building in Darra Pezu town. Unknown miscreants had planted an improvised explosive device inside a girls high school in Warghar locality of the town to destroy the building. On information a contingent of police force along with the personnel of Bomb Disposal Squad reached the spot and defused the bomb.

A case was registered against unknown assailants on the complaint of the school watchman and investigation was underway. An official in the District Police Office told media that the bomb weighed 15 kilograms and a detonator was attached to it. (The Nation)

April 6: Girls primary school destroyed in Mohmand

Terrorists blew up a government-run girls primary school located in the Lakrro area in Sasi tehsil of Mohmand Agency. No casualties were reported. (Daily Times)
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