Javed Ahmad Beigh, a prominent socio-political activist, has drawn attention to the dire human rights situation faced by Shias in Pakistan, particularly in the illegally occupied region of Gilgit Baltistan, where a significant Shia population resides. In an exclusive interview with ANI, Beigh emphasized that Shias in Pakistan live under a constant shadow of fear due to an unannounced crackdown by the state on this minority group. He pointed out that Shias have long been treated as second-class citizens in Sunni-dominant Pakistan, and the situation has recently deteriorated further. “Many people across Gilgit and Baltistan have been killed. A renowned religious scholar, Agha Baqir Ul Hussain, was arrested on false charges of blasphemy. He was vocal against an amendment to Pakistan’s blasphemy laws that allows the implication of any member of the minority community. Similarly, a young activist was arrested, detained in a central jail, and charged under the National Security Act. This is how the Pakistani regime has been treating minorities for the past 77 years,” Beigh stated. Citing a Human Rights Watch report, Beigh revealed that as many as 4,000 Shias were killed by Sunni extremists between 1987 and 2000 in the aftermath of an unannounced call by the Pakistani government to suppress Shias. According to The Muslim Vibe, nearly 23,000 Shias have been murdered in Pakistan since 1963. Beigh further argued that Shias in Pakistan are being deprived of their fundamental rights and basic facilities, falling far below international standards. “People lack access to the internet, government facilities, or institutions, and they cannot voice their concerns without being falsely implicated under the notorious blasphemy laws,” he said.  Moreover, a prominent Shia Muslim religious leader, Agha Baqir Ul Hussain from Gilgit Baltistan, was arrested by the police for raising objections to a bill passed in Pakistan’s National Assembly, which is believed to be against the interests of Shias in the region. This incident is not isolated, as three Shia youths were apprehended by Pakistani security forces in Kharmarg, Gilgit Baltistan, in July 2021, with their whereabouts still unknown. Similarly, in October 2021, Pakistani army personnel were accused of raping a Shia girl in Astore, Gilgit Baltistan. These atrocities against Shias are not limited to Gilgit Baltistan; they are widespread across Pakistan. In May 2023, five Shia teachers were killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and just last year, in March 2022, a bomb blast in Peshawar claimed the lives of 100 Shias. Earlier, Beigh had made an oral intervention during the ongoing 54th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). “While Shias face threats throughout Pakistan, it is crucial to highlight that the restive region of Gilgit Baltistan, a part of Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan’s only administrative region with a Shia and Ismaili majority, is particularly witnessing anti-Shia violence,” Beigh stated during his UNHRC intervention.

Muhammad Gohir Khan made multiple attempts to reach Rotterdam, and even bought a paring knife during his visit to the Netherlands as he scouted the home and location of exiled blogger Ahmad Waqass Goraya.   Khan also repeatedly asked a middleman in Pakistan — said to be the individual who allegedly hired the defendant for the murder plot — for more information on the identity and whereabouts of the blogger.   On the second day of the trial in which Khan has been charged with conspiracy to murder, the prosecution again made its case to the jury that the defendant intended to kill Goraya. Khan has pleaded not guilty and said he wanted to take the cash — about GBP 80,000 of which an advance of GBP 5,000 was paid — but that he did not intend to kill the blogger.   The trial has revealed chilling details of Khan’s discussions with a Pakistan-based middleman identified through phone messages as Mudz, Zed or Papa. Evidence provided by the prosecution shows Khan expressing frustration at only having a mugshot and an address and demanding more money. Mudz does not give more information, and insists that “R&D is 75% of the job”.   At one point when he is in Rotterdam, Khan suggests staging a robbery at the blogger’s address after his two stake-outs at the location did not yield information. “If it’s a Paki family how do we know who it is?” the defendant asked Mudz at another instance, when the two discussed talking to neighbours or ringing the doorbell of the victim.   Mudz told Khan he would meet his contact, an unidentified individual who appears to be the one with more information on Goraya, but said not to expect more information.   The prosecution’s case also demonstrated how Covid-19 restrictions in Europe, particularly the Netherlands, thwarted the defendant’s travel plans. Khan obtained bogus PCR tests and a bogus invitation letter purporting to be from a fictitious individual Zubair Khan who the defendant said was his relative.   When he arrived at Schipol airport in Amsterdam, immigration authorities who contacted the so-called Zubair Khan became suspicious when the person telephoned hung up when asked if they knew how old Khan was. Khan was then denied entry, and returned to the UK. He later travelled to Paris by train, and then took a bus from there to Rotterdam, where the intended victim lives.   The prosecution also demonstrated to the jury that Mudz and the defendant discussed the need for a weapon. Though Mudz said no tool was required as the target was “a baby not a shark”, Khan said the tool would be purchased in the Netherlands.   Mudz said it was impossible to travel with a ‘tool’ from the UK to the Netherlands. “You’ve been watching too many action movies,” he told the defendant. Mudz emphasised that as far as he understood, a weapon of that size is not required to take out this particular target.   Khan said that without a tool it would be “more mess”.   The prosecution maintained that Khan purchased a paring knife of 19cm from a store close to Goraya’s home, and raised the question of why the defendant would purchase a knife like that if he did not intend to go ahead with the killing. Source:  THE DAWN

Security has been tightened in four upazilas of Chattogram to avoid any untoward situation over the burial of Hathazari Madrasah rector and chief of Hefazat-e-Islam Allama Shah Ahmad Shafi. Allama Shafi breathed his last at a hospital in the capital on Friday evening at the age of 104, within 24 hours of resignation from his post at the Hathazari Madrasah in the face of student protests. His namaj-e-janaza will be held on the madrasah premises after Zohr prayers and be buried at the madrasah's graveyard. Sources at the Chattogram district administration said additional police and members of Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) and Rapid Action Battalion have been deployed in Hathazari, Patiya, Rangunia and Fatikchhari upazilas. Besides, seven magistrates have been deployed to maintain law and order in the upazilas from Saturday morning. Of these, four magistrates will be on duty in Hathazari upazila, said Md Omar Faruk, an assistant commissioner at the Deputy Commissioner's   office. He said additional security measures have been taken to prevent any unpleasant situation at Hathazari Madrasah centering the student protests and the closure of the madrasah.  Along with police, 20 platoons BGB and RAB members will be on duty, led by seven magistrates, in the four upazilas, the official said, adding that all the security measures have been taken. Students of the madrasah have been agitating  since last Wednesday last. Anas Madani, son of Allama Ahmad Shafi, director general of the madrasah,  was withdrawn on Wednesday night in the face of demands of the students. The protests turned violent after the Ministry of Education issued a notification on Thursday closing the madrasah for an indefinite period. Under the circumstances, Shafi announced his resignation from his post around 12am on Thursday. Later, he fell sick and was admitted to Chittagong Medical College Hospital. When his condition deteriorated, he was taken to Dhaka by an air ambulance on Friday afternoon. He died there around 7 pm. Shah Ahmad Shafi was the rector of Al-Jamiatul Alia Darul Unum Moinul Islam Hathazari, to give the institution its full name, and also the chairman of Bangladesh Qawmi Madrasah Education Board. He was born in 1916 (1334-35 AH) in Rangunia of Chattogram and was educated at Hathazari Madrasah and Darul Uloom Deoband. Shafi started his career as a teacher at AL-Jamiatul Ahlia Darul Ulum Moinul Islam Hathazari Madrasah in Chittagong. Source: UNB AH 

President Md. Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed deep shock at the death of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh ameer Allama Shah Ahmad Shafi. The President and the Prime Minister expressed deep shock and sorrow in different condolence messages sent to the news media. On Friday evening Allama Ahmad Shafi died while undergoing treatment at Asgar Ali Hospital in the capital. Earlier in the afternoon he was airlifted to Dhaka from Chattogram Medical College Hospital and was admitted at the hospital. Mentionable, Allama Shah Ahmad Shafi (104) was suffering from different old age complexities for long period including diabetes, high blood pressure and breathing problem. AH   

Hefazat-e-Islam Ameer Allama Ahmad Shafi is no more (Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilaihi Rajiun). He died at Asgar Ali Hospital in the capital while undergoing treatment on Friday evening. Media Coordinator of Allama Shah Ahmad Shafi Mawlana Iqbal confirmed the matter to Rtv news. Confirming the information to Rtv news Hefazat-e-Islam Dhaka metropolitan unit joint secretary general Mufti Fayzullah said, while undergoing treatment he died at around 6 pm at capital’s Asgar Ali Hospital. Earlier in the afternoon Allama Shah Ahmad Shafi was brought to capital boarded on an air ambulance from Chattogram Medical College Hospital. He was then admitted at Asgar Ali Hospital. Mentionable, Allama Shah Ahmad Shafi (104) was suffering from different old age complexities including diabetes, high blood pressure and breathing problem. AH    

The 20-party alliance led by BNP will take final decision in the next two days about participating in the upcoming eleventh national parliament election. One of the alliance member party LDP’s Chairman Colonel Oli Ahmad (retd) said this after holding 20-party meeting on Saturday night. The meeting started in the evening at BNP Chairperson’s political office at Gulshan in the capital. Colonel Oli Ahmad (retd) Beer Bikram presided over the meeting. Oli Ahmad also said, the main party of the alliance BNP will decide whether they would participate in the election or not within two days after holding talks with Jatiya Oikya Front. Our prime demand was release of Khaleda Zia but that was not met. The promise of not harassing opposition leaders-activists remains on papers. Arresting and filing cases are going on. Decision will be taken after holding discussion over these matters. Jamaat leader Maulana Abdul Halim, Khelafat Majlish ameer Maulana Mohammad Ishaq, Kalyan Party chairman Syed Muhammad Ibrahim, BJP chairman Andaleev Rahman Partho, NPP chairman Dr. Fariduzzaman Sagor, Jagpa president Barrister Tasmia Prodhan, Bangladesh Labor Party chairman Mostafizur Rahman Iran, Bangladesh Islami Oikyajote chairman Advocate Abdur Rakib, secretary general of Jamiate Olamaye Islam Nur Hossain Qasemi and others were present in the meeting. AH  

Chairman of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Dr. Colonel Oli Ahmad (rtd) Bir Bikram was under attack. A group of miscreants attacked his car and broke the glasses at Chandina College Road area in Cumilla on Thursday afternoon. The incident of attack took place while he was on his way to inaugurate the number two campus of Dr. Redwan Ahmed University College at Chandina. Former state minister and LDP Secretary General Redwan Ahmed complained to Rtv online in such a way. He said, the Awami League leaders suddenly attacked on us. They vandalized the car but Oli Ahmad was unhurt. A group of 20 to 25 people were passing through us chanting ‘Joy Bangla’ slogan. They suddenly attacked the car of Oli Ahmad. Oli Ahmad said, the incident took place in front of police. I am a freedom fighter. Attack was originated on my car. Daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Hasina is in power. Let’s see what role she would play. Officer in Charge of Chandina police station Md. Shamsul told Rtv online, we have heard the news. But action will be taken after getting written complaint on who originated the attack. AH

Leader of 20-party alliance and Chairman of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Colonel Oli Ahmad (rtd.) said, the condition of Khaleda Zia is deteriorating day by day due to staying in the prison. She is not being provided proper treatment. Even she may die at any time. If that happens then the government has to bear the responsibility. He said these at an iftar mahfil organized by LDP in honor of political leaders at Ladies Club in the capital on Saturday. Oli Ahmad said, every year we arrange iftar with Begum Khaleda Zia. But this year she is imprisoned under a false case. We have news that she suffered mild stroke. She was not given the proper treatment. We have requested the government for her better treatment. Take measures to release her. About proposed budget he said, crores of taka were looted from the government banks in the last ten years. To meet that two thousand crores taka were allocated. Those are peoples’ money. The government has no right to allocate peoples’ money to meet up the lootings. The LDP Chairman said, the revenue target in the budget is not realistic. There is no word of employment for the youth. They mainly have taken mega projects from that the money goes to the pockets of wealthy people. He said, there is no measure to shoot the people who looted the share market or banks. But the minor yaba traders and carriers are being killed. 20-party alliance coordinator and BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Jamaat Nayebe Ameer Professor Mia Golam Parwar, LDP Secretary General Dr. Redwan Ahmed and others were present on the occasion. AH