A State that turns its guns on its own populace
By S P Singh
State Response to Peaceful Demonstrations
What began as solemn gathering of mourners to express grief over the killing of Iran’s Supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khomenei, has turned into a tragic chapter in history of Giligit Baltistan. Shias marched peacefully, protestors faced tear gas, baton charges, curfew, troop deployment and firing, with the death toll rising between 13-15 citizens, including six children and numerous injured in Gilgit and Skardu.
Global Rage, Local Graves
Pakistan once again demonstrated its grim old habit “When Anger erupts, its Citizens pay the price”. Recently, after the death of the Supreme Leader of Iran, Shia Muslims across the globe had gathered everywhere showcasing their grief and solidarity. Numerous peaceful gatherings were witnessed in Pakistan, including Gilgit Baltistan region, wherein children, women, elderly and men gathered and poured in cities like Karachi, Islamabad, Gilgit and Skardu in disbelief that their paramount religious authority and a symbol of strength for the minority Shia had been killed. The demonstration, started with collective mourning, participants lit candles, offered prayers and voiced sorrow for their leader, whom the Shia community revered as a spiritual figure. Little did they know, they were not walking on streets, but on a battleground. Instead of political maturity and restraint, the situation quickly descended into deadly confrontations. Pakistan Government, turned its peaceful streets full of protestors into a bloodshed, killing 13, including six children and leaving numerous injured. Brutal ammunition was used against its own people carrying out peaceful protests, where the Federal Govt in Pakistan chose to control the crowd with force rather than dialogue.
The Irony is Staggering
The people protesting and mourning peacefully ended up witnessing its own blood being spilled with children and men being killed right in front of their families. Use of force against grieving civilians, became yet another episode of domestic bloodshed highlighting Pakistan’s battles fought not against external aggressions, but against its own people, or the people it claims as its own. Amnesty International condemned and pulled up Pakistan for this brutal act highlighting that the protests could have been handled in a more mature manner. How many funerals will it take for Pakistan to realise that the dissent is not an enemy? When will the state stop treating its own as a threat? How long will GB mourn for peaceful protests?
How Long will the Peaceful Streets Echo with Gunfire instead of Dialogue? Commander FCNA had visited the protestors a few days back, but turned his eyes away when the bloodshed commenced, exposing and contradicting FCNA’s portrayal of itself as Masiha for the Awaam. GB residents gathered in Skardu to carry out the funeral procession for the people whose own government had killed, but refused to bury them, demanding strict action against the aggressors. Post intervention by Caretaker CM, the protestors agreed to bury the deceased. However, FCNA has been deployed in the streets of Giligit Baltistan to curb any peaceful voice, patrolling 24×7 against its own citizens. It seems as if these killings were not sufficient; they have deployed their Army to eliminate anyone turning their heads up. With the curfew being extended, however, the grief still echoing inside the hearts of every Shia, alongwith the infuriation due to the killing of protestors, will the situation normalise? With the history of Pakistan and protests, this doesn’t seem like happening in GB at present or in future.
What is the price in here for Shia in solidarity with Iran?
The answer is simple – “LIFE OF A PROTESTOR”
