9/3/2021 Would Jinnah have lived as a Shia? - Pakistan - DAWN.

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TODAY'S PAPER | SEPTEMBER 03, 2021

Would Jinnah have lived as a Shia?

Faiza Mirza | Published September 3, 2012

Twenty-nine years ago a boy was born in the city of Karachi. His excited parents just
like many before and after them, faced the common question: What should we name
him? A name which would do justice to do the kind of person they hoped he would
grow up to become. His father, foreseeing the inevitable future, suggested that he be
named Sohail Tanveer* going against the child’s grandparents and mother’s wishes,
who wanted him to be named Syed Abbas Raza Rizvi, proud of their affiliation with
Shia ideology.

Eighteen years later, Tanveer found himself and his family embroiled in another struggle. This time,
however, the problem surrounds the academic line he should choose. After almost two decades, the
roles reverse and his mother takes charge of the situation. She urges him to choose any other

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academic field but the field of medicine. Her demands were prompted by the series of targeted
attacks on Shia doctors in Karachi.

Tanveer, who was ripped off of his identity at the time of his birth and later was forced to choose
against his academic aptitude, succumbed to all that his parents ordered, knowing that they only had
his safety in mind. His parents ensured that every aspect of his outer persona and bearings remained
free from any affiliation with his sect.

Such has been the force of fear borne by many Shia Muslims living in Pakistan.

Tanveer’s family had a choice, unfortunately, many Shias do not have an alternative because their
outward appearance, ethnicity and whereabouts are inevitable clues to the discriminating killers who
identify and murder them ruthlessly.

Whether we talk about the Hazara community of Afghanistan who were brutally massacred by the
Taliban or the Shias living in Parachinar who were targeted by local militants because of their
religious beliefs or members of the Hazara community living in Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan, the
violence against Shia Muslims perpetrated and sponsored by fascist groups undoubtedly marks the
advent of the beginnings of another holocaust.

In some parts of the country the situation has deteriorated to an extent that Shia Muslims refrain
from going out of their houses. In 2010, many Shias living in Quetta received brochures and notices,
signed by a banned militant outfit, declaring them infidels and making them liable to be prosecuted.

The message also specified that all Shias should leave the country by 2012 for the safety of their lives,
conveniently banishing them from a country to which they are more loyal than the bigoted groups
propagating hate and fear.

Another such example of this obscenity is a recent grotesque video showcasing the true colours of
intolerance in our society. The video shows snippets of the Chilaas massacre, featuring a poor, old
man who was asked to prove his identity as a Sunni Muslim. Throughout the video the voices of
monsters chanting “Shia Kafir” can be clearly heard – one can not help but wonder exactly when it
was that humanity died.

The question is who has the right to flag people as believers and non-believers? Who has the
authority to criticise anyone’s faith? And most importantly, what do they want them to do? Leave the
country and live in a self-imposed exile away from their homes?

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Many Pakistani Shias have sought political asylum in other countries, whereas others frequently
leave for safer abodes; however, Pakistan is where their heart truly is. It is their home.

A Shia Muslim living in United Kingdom expressed his profound sadness on past and recent carnages
on condition of anonymity by saying, “When Muslims from the Shia school of thought are targeted, I
am hurt as a Muslim, as a Shia Muslim. Having grown up in Pakistan, my best friends come from
different ethnic communities and sects. I believe that our country can alleviate the state of violence
only if we unite as Pakistanis — transcend labels of Sunni, Salafi, Deobandi, Shia, Ahmadi, Hindu,
Christian and Parsi — by being vocal in our condemnation of these acts within our respective local
communities.”

The truth is that the acts of these uncivilised and inhumane traitors — primarily responsible for
supporting sectarian strife in Pakistan — do not have religion on their main agenda when they are
instigating violence. All they care and think about is money and the power it brings. Then why hide
behind the facade of Islam or any other hypocritical rationale instead of accepting the real motives?

Most disappointing is the knowledge that it is not only the hate-mongering militants who spew
venom against Shias. Growing displeasure amongst a group of fundamentalist Pakistanis, which can
be attributed to the humongous efforts of pseudo-religious scholars and their misconstrued religious
rants, plays an integral part in further pushing the Muslim minority to the precipice. Over the years
contents of religious sermons have been tweaked greatly to instigate vengeful feelings toward people
professing different faiths. It is ironic that the platform which can be used to propagate humanity and
coexistence is widely being used to instigate violence.

What exactly is their fault? Is it that they were born on the wrong side of the globe? Or that they
belong to a group of people and society that refuse to accept them as one of their own? Or that they
serve Pakistan and protect its people as NLI soldiers? Or that they have always contributed positively
in the development and progress of Pakistan?

With the ongoing debate about Jinnah’s religious inclinations, many people wonder that if he were
alive, would he have been branded as an infidel as well or survived the sectarian strife? A question
which should be a source of introspection for most of us.

The writer is a Reporter at Dawn.com

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