To protest against the killing of Shia teachers in Pakistan, several protests were held in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir on May 5, 2023.
Many people from the Shia community in Kashmir have organised protests and expressed anger in Alamgari Bazar, Zadibal Area of Srinagar. Apart from Alamgari Bazar, protests were also seen in Srinagar’s Meri Bhari Dal area.
The protestors at Srinagar’s Alamgari Bazar alleged that the Pakistani government is behind the killing of Shia people and has not taken any steps to stop such killings.
A protestor said, “Today, we have gathered here to protest against the killing of seven Shia teachers. We stand in solidarity with them.” He further said, “Pakistani government is behind all the attacks. Today we have gathered to show that we stand firm with the Shias of Pakistan.
A political activist named Sajjad Kargili tweeted- “Shia target killing is not new, the Takfiri terrorists are roaming free, and the security agencies of Pakistan are failing to ensure the safety and security of the community. While sending my deepest condolences to the bereaved families, I strongly condemn this brutal attack.”
Another activist named Sajid Yousuf Shah said, “The horrific killing of Shia teachers in Pakistan is truly devastating. It is disheartening to witness the Pakistani state continually failing to provide security and justice to ethnic and religious minorities. We urge Bhutto Zardari to speak up and act. Let us condemn such senseless violence and stand up for human rights.”
A third activist from Gilgit Baltistan named Senge Sering condemned the incident and tweeted- “Mehdi Hassan was one of the eight Shia teachers killed in Kurram District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The lives of his children will never be the same.”
On May 4, 2023, the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an umbrella group of numerous Sunni Muslim terrorist groups, claimed responsibility for killing eight Shia teachers in a government-run school in Pakistan.
The Kurram District in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province is home to many Shia Muslims whom Sunni Militants often attack from the local Taliban movement. Sunni Muslims consider Shia Muslims as heretics.
This incident came within a week of numerous terrorist attacks, including an assault by a suicide bomber who drove into a military base camp just outside Pakistan’s restive tribal areas, killing three soldiers of the Pakistan Army.
The Pakistan Taliban have been orchestrating attacks against the state that have become more frequent since 2022, as it revoked a ceasefire and peace talks with Islamabad failed.
As per the government, the peace talks have allowed the release of hundreds of militants and their imprisoned leaders, enabling them to regroup and conduct fresh attacks
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