At present, the population of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) is
estimated 2 million. This population consists of various ethnic and tribal
groups who have been interlinked with each other in a perfect unity and harmony
despite lack of basic education and in harsh geographical conditions. Majority
of them fought the war of independence and got independence in 1947 against
Dogras.
Basically, the people of GB are peace loving, inter-tribe
and inter-ethnic marriages are normal, ethnic ties and tribal loyalties had
surpassed the sectarian rifts.
Now the question is when the sectarian conflicts started in
GB?
During the pre-partition era the [British] Raj was able to
almost completely uproot the Sunni-Shia confrontation during its tenure. So the
sectarian conflict in GB is therefore a post-independence process.
When Pakistan took over the control of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB)
on November 16, 1947, masses in the Northern areas could not get organized on
political lines and platforms. This however made easier their division on
sectarian basis. The sectarian rifts in GB seem to be partially started since
then.
Over the next decades, Sunni-Shia division firmly
established. Parties speaking for a sect assumed high importance. The history of the ongoing sectarian violence
in Gilgit-Baltistan dates back to 1960s and 1970s. Under Zulfiqar ali Bhutto,
the countries democratically elected prime minister, major administrative
changes were made which I applaud by the core of my heart. The agency system,
the FCR system and rule of hereditary princes was ended in 1974, and Gilgit and
Baltistan were transformed into districts like other settled areas in Pakistan.
The political agent became the deputy commissioner, a northern areas council
(NAC) replaced the northern areas advisory council (NAAC) and entitled the
direct adult franchise in 1974.
But, meanwhile anarchy began in 1970s. First, the
authorities abrogated the state subject rule. State subject rule was a law that
protected the local demographic composition, and encouraged Pakistani Sunnis to
settle in Gilgit town. This government-sponsored settlement scheme damaged the
social fabric and provoked religious feuds.
So the Sunni-Shia conflict lie in the social order of population
movements associated with partition.
After 1973 there has
been perpetual tension between Shia and Sunni in GB. Gilgit remained the main
center of tension, where difference between both the sects was over the route
of Ashura processions and illumination on Konodas hills in Gilgit by Shias on
different occasions. The Sunnis started objecting to this traditional route as
their Jamia Mosque was enrooted and illumination because of majority of Sunni
population and their Dar-Ul-Uloom is in Konodas area, and they called Sunnis
from chilas and kohistan.
Shia majority Gilgit city was directly administered by the
so called politicians from Islamabad and attempted to change the demographic,
social and economic balance of the town in favor of Sunnis, alienating Shias
and fuelling violence. It is a term of regulatory process of state-making, for
a state that officially proclaims Islam as its religion, Islam that is
implicitly coded as Sunni- the Shia majority Northern areas thus constitute a
significant source of anxiety.
It was as part of this project of control that the independent
princely kingdoms of the region were abolished during 1972-1974, and replaced
by a single administrative territory called Northern Areas. Thereafter, state
institutions chiefly the Army, intelligence agencies, and the KANA bureaucracy
embarked upon a divide-and-conquer project that aimed at creating disunity
along sectarian lines, in order to thwart regional solidarity and
secular-nationalist aspirations. This divide-and-conquer policy firstly
entailed state sponsorship of Sunni and Shia religious organizations, which
were required to spur sectarian animosity as a means to deflect political
energy and agreement. Molvis from both sects were paid by intelligence agencies
to engage in de-humanizing trades against each other, through wall-chalking,
mosque loudspeakers, and publications.
So finally many forces tried to ignite the fire of hatred
among the peaceful people of Gilgit-Baltistan and successfully this riot got
impetus in the region, but this river of hatred and disunity will be ended soon
and it is on the verge of ending. We-the people of GB well construct a bridge
over this river of hatred and we-Sunni and Shia will reconnect like we were
before and hopefully the existing love among the people of GB will be fostered.
It is deemed that the beauty of GB is regained.
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