The Enduring Tactic of Sectarian Violence in Pakistan
Let's follow the trail: FIRST INSTANCE: The Zia-ul-Haq Era and Sectarian Divisiveness (1970s-1980s) When: General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq's rise to power following the 1977 coup marked a significant shift in Pakistan's sociopolitical landscape. What happened: Shia Muslims, constituting 15-20% of Pakistan’s population (Pew Research, 2009), largely enjoyed a degree of religious freedom and integration.
Zia's Islamization policies, however, systematically introduced Sunni supremacist interpretations of law and governance, creating a formal state-sanctioned discrimination. This provided fertile ground for Sunni extremist groups, some of whom received tacit state support or were tolerated as proxies against perceived foreign threats or internal dissent. The first major Shia protests against these
policies occurred in 1979-1980, marking the beginning of overt sectarian tension. Outcome: This period saw the deliberate cultivation of sectarian divisions, laying the groundwork for future violence. The state's selective enforcement of religious laws and its backing of certain sectarian militias escalated tensions, transforming a diverse religious landscape into a volatile battleground.
REPETITIONS: The Escalation of Targeted Attacks (1990s-Early 2000s) When: The 1990s witnessed a dramatic increase in targeted sectarian killings. What happened: Groups like Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ), often operating with impunity, systematically attacked Shia mosques, processions, and prominent community figures. The 1997 attack on the Iranian Cultural Centre in