Violence Against Shias in Parachinar - Exclusive Pictures
Written by Hani Kazmi
Thursday, 08 May 2008
The city of Parachinar in FATA province of Pakistan has witnessed
continuous rounds of violence as pro-Taliban groups with ties to Al-Qaeda attempt
to take over the city. Dozens of local Shias have been killed and hundreds of
homes and businesses have been torched in the violence that has gripped the
region since last April.
Violence was sparked off in April 2007 as the town reverberated with explosions
of mortar shells and rockets when pro-Taliban militants attacked a mosque in
Parachinar. Tens of Shias were killed after being abducted and tortured by
Taliban militants. Militants shot and killed the victims in
cold-blood and left their bodies in the Aravali region.
Militant tribal groups like the Tehrik-i Taliban mark the landscape in the NWFP and FATA provinces in Pakistan, and the central government's policy towards these groups has unleashed a "violence-accommodation cycle" according to experts.
Local leaders blame the government for drawing a blanket of silence over the
violence in the FATA province, and many residents liken their fate in the
province to the siege of Gaza.
Kurram Agency has been subject to periodic sieges since April, the most recent
of which has lasted for more than two-months in certain regions, and well over
five-months of complete blockade in the city of Parachinar. Residents in
Parachinar face an acute shortage in supplies of food and medicine.
In an interview with AIM, a leading figure from Parachinar stated, "We call the
[whole of] humanity for relief, removal of blockade, peace in the region and
re-opening of the roads". Speaking of the dire humanitarian crisis that has
gripped Parachinar, he added, "our sick persons are passing away without cure
and medicine."
The violence and humanitarian crisis in Parachinar has been met with silence
from media outlets and human rights groups in covering the crisis. "Parachinari
people are crying for relief but their voice returns back, because the 'big
ones' have considered these people as non-human [and] uncivilized", a local
figure exclaimed in clear frustration at the lack of coverage of the horrific
situation in the Kurram Agency.
In a rare piece, Pakistani media outlet, The Post, featured a story on
the clashes in Kurram Agency, and similarly depicted the frustrations of the
local population against the government's silence in the face of widespread
violence and blockades which prevent the passage of the most basic supplies.
The Post underlined that hospitals in the region were facing a "critical
condition" due to the lack of medical supplies.
Protesters who had gathered in a rally organised earlier in April shouted slogans against the "political
administration and were demanding restoration of durable peace in the area" the
piece added.
In exclusive pictures sent to AIM from Parachinar, a glimpse of the horrific
extent of the violence that has gripped Parachinar is revealed.
The residents of Parachinar complain that at a time when the world is supposedly
at war with Al-Qaeda and the Taliban, it is of great surprise that the very real
stories of grief and horror from victims who are faced with violence from these
groups on a routine basis goes unheard.
The call from Parachinar is not one to the 'ears of humanity' per se, but one
that returns to question the collective conscience of the 'civilized world', and
the double-standards at play in the so-called 'war on terror'.
Exclusive Pictures: Violence in Parachinar
Note: Viewer Discretion Advised
Source: AIM News
Comments (18)
1. Written by sami on 10-05-2008 09:49
what can be done regarding this situation?
2. Written by Ayatullah jadran on 15-05-2008 09:15
Being a Parachinari i want to say that the Goverment should make quick action for the solution of the dispute. If we will compare Parachinr with the whole province then we will find the ratio of eduction is much more then the whole province. The people of parachinar are well civilized. They were compel to fight, the people of parachinar are very peaceful people. I requests UN and Government of pakistan to please make quick action to solve the problems.
3. Written by Sayyid Naqawi on 28-05-2008 18:03
Frankly speaking, I believe that president Musharraf is doing the right thing, by attacking Taliban militants in the Northern Areas. The day he leaves office, Shias will be targeted again as when Nawaz Shareef was in power.
4. Written by Shujat Ali on 07-06-2008 19:05
The only solution of the dispute is to stop the TALIBAN\'s interfarence from the Afghanistan, and ofcourse this is the main duty of the government to stop them as Pak Army is taking action in the other parts of the province. This is i think the only solution.
5. Written by sajjad on 26-06-2008 13:23
Oh black mole on the Name of Islam.You why repeat the History of Yazeed Ibni Maavia. Oh illitrate Pashtoon Why u not use your intelect before action. You are using by the Name of Islam. Kindly Read Islam deeply.Islam Mean Peace.Our Prophet Dose not allow us to kill each other, Suni & Shia are Muslim,There is very rare diffrence,,It dose not mean to kill and Burn home of each other. O"Shia & Suni of Pakistan and specially of Kurram Agency Please dont come in use of Terrorest. Forgate that what Hapened now find the Solution..Improve Your Education,,when u see the demond of Education in foriegn u will??? fighting is not the solutions of Matters,,Plz Respect the Quran Ahlubayte,Khalifa"and others religios matters. God Make Suni Shia Bhai,,Amrica ki Barbadi AAyee..
6. Written by para man on 27-06-2008 05:33
plz consider it that the talibian is not fighting for islam they are Americian follower.they only spread problems for muslims.
7. Written by SHAHID HUSSAIN TURI on 28-06-2008 17:07
i hate taliban.they are not doing the the right thing in parachinar.i think they will realize later that with which nation they have war.TURI ZINDABAD
8. Written by fida hussain on 07-07-2008 16:16
All world know the history of karbala,though Imam hussain(AS) was martyred defeat went to Yazeed(Maloon). So how much shia are being martyred,again defeat will go to Yazeedis.
9. Written by Saba on 20-07-2008 08:04
I think that in Parachinar government is responsible for all the atrocities on the local people and we should know that Parachinar is part of our country and if we will not condemn it then we will also suffer in future.
10. Written by Sajjad Hussain on 27-07-2008 03:33
Brothers, Its a matter of Haq and Batil, as Batil powers are much more afraid from the followers of Ahlaibait, because of success of IRAN AND HIZBULLAH, Now they are seeing the growing power/confidence of shia in Iraq and other parts of the world, so they want to destroy shia by wahabi, in other words they are still playing the game of divide and rule, now why they choose parachanar momineen because they are much more educated, also its a idea of enemy of islam and shitte to destroy the whole defence system of Pakistan by making/propagating pakistan as unstable and does not deserve atomic power, because they want to completely destroy iran, and want to week pakistan before they start war with iran, and destroy pakistan's atomic defence system, so taliban/wahabi are still helping west like they are responsible of destruction Iraq/Afghanistan/Kuwait/US Forces in Saudi Arabia/Indirectly support Israel. Thats all, so muslim should united and protest/voice up against the anti islamic approach of Taliban/Wahabi. Wa Salam
11. Written by nusrat ali turi on 05-08-2008 11:04
jab tak dunya kaim hai tab tak yazeediat ke helaaf awaz outayian ge.chahe hum sab ko is pe mitna hi kioon na paren
12. Written by syed hasan imam jafri on 13-08-2008 08:26
salam.z ya ali madad as hume is saheny per khamosh nahi bethna chayea balky hume apna difa karna chayea yea jo bhi hai yea kal ko humery sath bhi ho sakta hai is liyea aj say he hume apna kal bachna paryga meri tamam momins say guzarish hai ky ap log apas mai aik ho jain aur is ka badla laney ky liyea tayar ho jeain
13. Written by atif on 14-08-2008 13:11
well shias are only reason for this all fight..i have seen video in which they abuse sunnis khalifa in parachinar so being muslim fight against shias is right thing
14. Written by Aqeel Haider Jaffari on 17-08-2008 04:40
On 15th of Shabaan-e-Moazzam, I have a deep love of my Shia Brothers who are fighting against so called Mulla muslims. I give a message to All my Shia fighters that Imam-e-Zamana (AS)'s help is always with you and you are fighting against new shape of Baatil. God Bless You
15. Written by ishtiaq on 17-08-2008 13:31
Taliban are the worest ever human beings on the erath.they are in human and bastereds. There islam means; killing of inocent peoples, theft,robbery,hypocracy,ill-litracy and devastation to human life.They are the nusal of munafiqin of prophets time.May allah eleminat them from the universe
16. Written by waqar on 18-08-2008 15:53
Mr Atif u have seen the shias vedio only, what about the sunni vedios inwhich they abuse Imam Hussain and Imam Ali:Mr u need to watch those vedios also.
17. Written by M . HUSSAIN UK on 18-08-2008 19:07
jes qom ke afrad main tanzeem nahi hai***** wo qom qabi laiqi tazeem nahi hai
shia yani har fard apni ap main ek tanzeem magr aj pit rahi hain (each person have to think about)hami apni pori zindagi chahi wo androni ho chahi bironi mokamal serati AHLIBYT as k sanchi main dhalni hogi aur hami har chez apni marzi se nahi on ke marzi se karni hogi AND THEN NO ONE CAN DEFEAT US NO ONE THAT IS PROMISE OF ALLAH AND AHLUBAIT (AS) RAHI ALI MAIN TAKALEEF HAIN MAGR SHEKAST NAHI,,,,,, AUR YE SO CALLED TALIBAN EN K BARI BANO OMYAD AND BANO ABBAS EN SE ZYADA KASHESH KAR CHOKE HAIN ,,, BAS HAMI JOSH K SAT HOSH SE B KAM LENA HAI,,,KIONKE HAM SAB IMAM K SAMNE JOWAB DEH HAIN ,,,, HAR KESE KO APNI ZEMADARI NEBANI HAIN (KOLOKUM RAIN WA KOLOKUM MASOOL) QURAN HAMARA RASTA KARBALA HAI.JAZAKALLAH
18. Written by AOWN GILLANI on 18-08-2008 21:19
salam to turi's! HAI HAMARI DARSAGAH KARBALA KARBALA.. HAQ KA SEEDHA RASTA KARBALA KARBALA..
HAMARI YE JAWANIAN HUSSAIN(A.S) KI QURBANIAN..
SUN LO AE YAZIDIO HUM TMHARI MOUT HAIN..
YE KISKA LAHO YE KON MARA BADMASH HAKOOMAT BOL ZARA!
MOLA(A.S) TM SAB KO SALAMAT RAKHEN! NIKAL BAHIR MARO YAZIDION KO
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