You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Afghanistan/South Asia
At Least 30 Killed at Shi'ite Religious Service in Pakistan
2005-03-19
A powerful bomb explosion in southwestern Pakistan late Saturday has killed at least 30 worshipers and injured many others. Local officials say the bomb ripped through a religious gathering in a remote town of southwestern Baluchistan province. Dozens of people were also injured in the powerful explosion and authorities are expecting the death toll to go up. Witnesses say thousands of Shiite Muslims had gathered for an annual pilgrimage at the shrine of a Muslim saint in Fatehpur town and many were having their evening meals when the bomb went off.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack. Provincial authorities have condemned it as an act of terrorism. An investigation is under way but police officials say it is premature to suggest as to who was behind the deadly bombing. Baluchistan is Pakistan's largest province and has a history of sectarian violence between militants from the majority Sunni and minority Shi'ite Muslim sects. Since the start of the year, the resource-rich province has scene bloody clashes between security forces and tribal militants fighting for more autonomy.
Posted by:Fred

#2  article says,

"Baluchistan is Pakistan's largest province and has a history of sectarian violence between militants from the majority Sunni and minority Shi'ite Muslim sects."

What it doesn't say is that Shiites have been getting the worse of this violence for the past few decades. Also, despite this, the percentage of Shiites is thought to be greater than it was 20 years ago.

One reason for this is that about 15 years ago, several parts of the country instituted Sharia and said that it only applied to Sunnis so a number of Sunnis became Shia.
Posted by: mhw   2005-03-19 9:36:32 PM  

#1  Sectarian violence, authors Summi. SOS different day.
Posted by: Sock Puppet 0’ Doom   2005-03-19 8:59:13 PM  

00:00