Sunday, May 28, 2023
#Pakistan and #Islamist Threat to Schools: #Christians and #Shia targeted
Recent school attacks in Pakistan highlight the fear that religious minorities face – along with females of all faiths in Sunni Islamist areas that oppose female education.
Several forces are at play. This includes the sectarian nature of religious attacks, which mirror wider society where minorities face persecution. For example, young Christian, Hindu, and Sikh girls face the serious issue of being forcibly converted to Islam: while Shia Muslims are targeted concerning Sunni Islamist sectarian attacks.
Terrorists have also committed attacks against Christians and other minorities. However, in general, the Shia have suffered countless massacres in Pakistan at the hands of Sunni Islamists over many decades.
Educational attacks against children and teachers are either religious based – anti-Christian and anti-Shia – or similar to Afghanistan, Sunni Islamists seek to close female schools down in militant areas irrespective of Christian, Shia, or Sunni.
Concerning the recent tragedy at the Sangota Convent School when two girls were killed, Kashif Nawab reports: “The incident has sparked outrage and raised questions about the vetting and re-employment processes within the police force, as attacker Alam Khan had previously faced suspension before being reinstated and assigned security duties at the Christian school just three months ago. The Sangota Convent School was built in 1962 and is administered by the Rawalpindi Catholic Archdiocese Education Board.”
Kashif Nawab continues: “The recent attack on the Catholic school has raised serious concerns regarding the safety and security of Christian institutions – and religious places of worship. This notably concerns the Islamist conservative peripheries of the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.”
Archbishop Sebastian Shaw of Lahore said: “This man was in charge of security for the children, the staff, the parents, everybody. That is what he was paid for. But in a moment of madness, he did this because the school teaches girls. This shows how aggressive these groups that are opposed to women’s education can be. Everybody has a right to an education.”
Aid to the Church in Need reports, “Earlier, extremist group Jan Nisaran-e-Islam threatened the school following false accusations that the Sisters were trying to convert its several hundred Muslim students to Christianity.”
SHIA ATTACK
In another attack against religious minorities that took place in early May – and aimed at education – seven Shia teachers (some reports say teachers and attendants) were shot dead. Another incident also led to the death of a Sunni teacher at the same school.
AP reports, “The teachers were gunned down by unidentified assailants who stormed a school in Kurram, a district in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.”
Pakistan President Arif Alvi said, “The attack on teachers by the enemies of knowledge is condemnable.”
The Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is more active again in the Swat Valley – and this is leading to fear. Accordingly, while the recent attack that killed 7 Shia isn’t fully known, memories of the TTP remain vivid.
This includes sectarian attacks against the Shia and destroying at least 100 schools for girls.
Pakistan is once more blighted by political intrigues. Accordingly, the nation needs a reset – corruption, military power, and attacks against former leaders are nothing new in this country.
http://moderntokyotimes.com/pakistan-and-islamist-threats-to-schools-christians-and-shia-targeted/
#Pakistan - Bilawal establishes organising committee for #PPP labour wing
In a significant move, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the Chairman of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), has formed a six-member organising committee for the party's Labour wing on Sunday. The committee comprises prominent political figures from different regions of Pakistan.
The newly appointed committee members include seasoned politician Raza Rabbani, Chaudhry Manzoor, Saeed Ghani, Haji Talha Mehmood representing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Malik Ashiq Bhutta hailing from South Punjab.
Additionally, Iqbal Shah from Balochistan has been appointed to represent the province on the committee.
The notification announcing the formation of the committee was issued under the directives of PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, demonstrating his commitment to strengthen the PPP's outreach to the labor community.
The committee's members, chosen for their political acumen and experience, are expected to play a crucial role in formulating and implementing policies aimed at protecting and advancing the rights of workers.
Their extensive involvement in regional politics is likely to contribute to the committee's ability to address specific labor-related challenges faced in their respective areas.
With the establishment of the organising committee, the PPP aims to further solidify its position as a political force that champions the rights of the working class.
https://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/727347-Bilawal-establishes-organising-committee-for-PPP-labour-wing