Pakistanis protest against killing of Shia Muslims

On Friday, the Shia community in Karachi also held a funeral procession for a citizen who was shot dead by Takfiri terrorists.

Arshad Hussein Naqvi and two of his Sunni friends came under attack on Tuesday. His friends died on the spot while Naqvi sustained serious injuries, resulting in his death.

Naqvi was a leading member of a Shia group, responsible for the security of religious processions in Karachi.

Violence against Shia Muslims has been on the rise across Pakistan. At least 10 senior figures, including two doctors, two lawyers and an academic, have been killed over the past few weeks.

The banned group Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) is reportedly responsible for the assassination.

The Shia mourners shouted slogans against the extremist group as well as the government in Islamabad.

They blamed the foreign-funded Takfiri elements and pro-Taliban groups for the violence.

Shia Muslims in Pakistan also say the government must take decisive action against the forces involved in the targeted killings. They also accuse Islamabad of failing to provide security for the Muslim community.

Pro-Taliban groups have launched a violent campaign against Shia Muslims and appear to have widened their terror campaign in major Pakistani cities.

Several Shia religious gatherings have been targeted in different parts of the country over the past few months.

The killing of Shias has caused an international outrage, with rights groups and regional countries expressing concern over the ongoing deadly violence.

Shias make up about a third of Pakistan’s population of over 180 million.

HK