As a result of the arrest of a Shia cleric for blasphemy under Pakistan’s strengthened blasphemy laws, there have been widespread protests in the Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan area. With “Chalo, chalo Kargil chalo” chants tearing the air, the protests are said to be the greatest the area has ever seen.
Local leaders in Gilgit warned the Pakistani government of an impending civil war, and some even called for a union with India.
After Shia cleric Agha Baqir al-Hussaini was detained and booked for his remarks during a religious gathering, riots by the locals of Skardu erupted.
Agha Baqir al-Hussaini was detained for his comments at a Skardu ulema council meeting when it was discussed if Pakistan should tighten its blasphemy laws in order to attack the Shia community. The fundamental principles of Islam are the same for Shias and Sunnis, although Shias do not veterate Islamic leaders who fought against the fourth Caliph, Ali.
Although Shias make up a sizable portion of the population in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan is a nation with a Sunni majority. Since Gen Zia-Ul Haq’s rule, many Pakistani governments have attempted to alter the demographics of Gilgit-Baltistan by resettling Sunnis there.
Despite the Pakistani media’s lack of coverage of the protests in Gilgit, social media has seen the emergence of videos that show the intensity of the unrest. Since most of it cannot be verified, even this is simply a trickle.
Accounts on X (previously Twitter) claim that the first demonstrations on August 22 were by Sunnis calling for the detention of Agha Baqir al-Hussaini. The Karakoram Highway, which connects the hilly area to Pakistan, was blocked due to the protest.
Now Shias have been protesting against the detention of cleric al-Hussaini, and footage of these actions are currently trending on X.
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