| | |
|
 |
|
| Oct. 8, 2003. 01:00 AM |
 |
Violence sparked by Sunni MP's slaying Unknown Shiite group claims responsibility KHALID TANVEER ASSOCIATED PRESS JHANG, Pakistan—Rioters attacked police and burned Shiite Muslim mosques in several Pakistani cities yesterday, demanding revenge as a hard-line Sunni Muslim politician was buried a day after he was gunned down in Islamabad. Three bodyguards and a driver also were killed in the assassination of parliament member Maulana Azam Tariq, the one-time leader of Sipah-e-Sahaba — a banned extremist group known for attacks on Shiites. In Jhang, the hometown of Tariq's violent movement, and in the normally tranquil capital, rioters exchanged fire with police, smashed shop windows and set ablaze Shiite mosques, gas pumps and a movie theatre. At least one person was killed. Many called for revenge against minority Shiites, raising fear the killing could lead to more sectarian bloodletting. No one has been arrested in connection with the attack, carried out by gunmen who opened fire on the car Tariq was travelling in on Islamabad's outskirts. A previously unknown Shiite group, calling itself the Fedayeen Imam Mahdi, claimed responsibility for the attack in an e-mail sent to journalists. The group accused Tariq of working with Jews to split the unity of the Islamic world.The government had no immediate comment. Even before the claim, Tariq's supporters were quick to deliver a verdict. Maulana Ali Sher Haideri, chair of Tariq's Millat-e-Islamia political party, accused Iran and Pakistan's interior minister — a post in charge of security — of involvement in the slaying. The minister, Faisal Saleh Hayyat, is a Shiite, and Iran is a Shiite majority country. "We are 100 per cent sure that Iran and Faisal Saleh Hayyat have a hand in this tragedy," Haideri said. Another Sunni leader, Abdul Ghafoor Nadeem vowed vengeance if Tariq's killers are not caught soon. "We will not guarantee peace after Thursday," he told a gathering at a mosque in the southern port city of Karachi. "We have only one demand — that the killers of our great leader be arrested and punished." Hayyat said an investigation was under way. "We cannot blame anyone until we have evidence," he said. "We have some clues but we cannot disclose them. I can only say we are on the right track." In Islamabad, violence erupted outside Parliament after a funeral service for Tariq. Hundreds of Islamic seminary students went on a rampage, setting fire to a Shiite Muslim shrine and a movie theatre, smashing shop windows and chanting anti-Shiite slogans. A 24-year-old theatre employee died after being overcome by smoke, and eight other people were injured. Rioters also torched the Sakhi Mahmood shrine — a Shiite shrine that is also popular with many Sunnis. Caretaker Gauhar Ali said everything inside the tomb was consumed by flames. Thousands flooded a main intersection in the capital for the funeral service. "Shiites are infidels," many in the crowd chanted, as hundreds of heavily armed police stood by. Later in Jhang, where Tariq's body was flown to be buried, Sunni rioters burned down a Shiite mosque and set fire to a gas station pump. Gunshots rang out at a sports stadium where at least 25,000 people had gathered. Three police officers were injured in clashes. The situation was calmer by evening, when Tariq was buried in a local mosque. |
|
|
|
|