Suicide Blasts On Prophet's Birthday Celebrations In Balochistan And Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provinces Claim 58 Lives
By
New Age Islam Staff Writer
2 October
2023
The Terrorist
Attacks Mark A New Form Of Sectarian Terrorism.
Main
Points:
1. The
terrorists targeted Eid Miladun Nabi celebrations in Mastung and Hangu.
1. 2.In
Mastung, the suicide blast was carried out on a Eid Milad un Nabi procession.
2. The blast in
Hangu took place in a mosque in the premises of the police station.
3. The blast
seems to be the fall out of the sectarian differences on Eid Milad un Nabi
celebrations.
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On Friday,
triple terrorist attacks rocked two provinces of Pakistan on the occasion of
Eid Miladun Nabi celebrations. One blast was carried out near Mastung' s Madina
mosque in Balochistan killing 54 people and injuring about 100. The blast targeted
a Milad un Nabi procession being taken out to celebrate prophet 's birthday.
The DSP Nawaz Gashkori was among the dead. The terrorist denoted his device
near his on duty car.
The other
twin blasts occurred in Hangu in Doaba police station area in Hangu of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
One blast occurred at the gate of the police station while the other occurred
inside the mosque during the Khutba before the Friday prayer. At least 4
people are reported dead and 12 people are injured.
The
Pakistan government has condemned the attacks. The UAE has expressed strong condemnation
of the heinous crime and its permanent rejection of all forms of violence and
terrorism aimed at undermining security and stability in contravention of human
values and principle. The government of UAE also expressed its condolences of
the victims of these attacks.
The UN
Security Council also took a strong note of the terrorist attacks and issued a
press statement as follows:
"Members
of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the heinous and
cowardly suicide terrorist attacks in Pakistan today that targeted a religious
procession in Mastung, Balochistan Province, to commemorate 12 Rabi-ul-Awwal,
the birthday of Prophet Muhammad, and a mosque in Hangu district of Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa province. The attacks have resulted in the deaths of at least 58
innocent Pakistanis with over 80 injured.
The members
of the Security Council expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the
families of the victims and to the Government of Pakistan, and they wished a
speedy and full recovery to those who were injured.
The members
of the Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and
manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international
peace and security.
The members
of the Security Council underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organizers,
financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable
and bring them to justice. They urged all States, in accordance with their
obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions,
to co-operate actively with the Government of Pakistan, as well as all other
relevant authorities in this regard.
The members
of the Security Council reiterated that any acts of terrorism are criminal and
unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by
whomsoever committed. They reaffirmed the need for all States to combat by all
means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and other
obligations under international law, including international human rights law,
international refugee law and international humanitarian law, threats to
international peace and security caused by terrorist acts."
No
organisation has claimed responsibility for the ghastly attacks on devotees.
But the attacks are self explanatory. The attackers are subscribers of the
Deobandi ideology that considers the Eid Milad un Nabi celebrations an
innovation. While the Barailvi school argues that they celebrate the birthday
of the prophet pbuh to express their love for him, the followers of the Deobandi
school argue that celebrating the prophet's birthday did not have any
precedence in the lives of the Sahaba ( the holy companions), or the four imams
or in the lives of the Ahl ul Bayt (the holy family).
However,
until now the Eid Miladun Nabi celebrations had been only a matter of
ideological differences and was not considered a serious issue. But that
ideological differences will took a violent turn was not anticipated by the
Muslims of the world. However, in Pakistan, ideological differences have always
have a violent fall out and this happened on this issue as well. These
terrorist attacks on a religious procession of Muslims celebrating the
prophet's birthday were an unIslamic act and cannot be justified on any
grounds.
In the
Indian sub-continent, the atmosphere becomes charged with the onset of the
Arabic month of Rabiul Awwal as the 12th day of Rabiul Awwal is the birthday of
the holy prophet pbuh. Earlier, only the 12th day was celebrated but with the
passing of years, the days of celebrations increased from three days to 12
days. The procession in Mastung which was attacked was taken on the 13th of
Rabiul Awwal. The celebrations start with the first day of Rabiul Awwal and
continue even after the 12th. During these 12 days, the preachers make
sectarian statements against those who do not participate or believe in the
celebrations. Slogans are shouted against the opposing section in the Jalsas
and in the processions. These statements create acrimony and bad blood between
two sections of Muslims. In Pakistan a particular derogatory slogan against
those not believing in Eid Miladun Nabi celebrations is very often chanted. The
slogan is:
Siwa-e-
Iblees Ke Jahan Me Sabhi To Khushyan Mana Rahe Hain
(All except
the Satan are celebrating the birth of the prophet)
Therefore,
those who do not participate in celebrations are likened to Satan. This kind of
derogatory slogans can have violent consequences in Pakistan where Muslims take
up arms on religious issues. Therefore, those who make such provocative slogans
should also be held responsible with those who attack innocent civilians on
petty sectarian issues.
Until now,
only religious processions of Shias were attacked by Sunni extremist
organisations but the attacks on a Sunni religious procession in Pakistan is
the first of its kind and raises concerns on a new wave of sectarian terrorism
under which Sunni organisations or extremists among them will carry out terrorist
attacks on each other's religious gatherings. The Muslims of all the schools of
thought should t together and to decide not to hurt each other's sentiments to
prevent bloodshed in the name of the love of prophet or in the name of
preventing Bid'ah.
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