In a saddened development, prominent religious scholar Maulana Adil Khan along with his driver was gunned down by unidentified assailants in Karachi. The slain scholar was associated with Jamia Farooqia, a university of Islamic studies.
The killing of Maulana Adil Khan was immediately condemned by the top country’s figures and seen as an attempt to trigger sectarian violence between Sunnis and Shiites in the country. The scholar’s assassination would possibly ignite sectarian strife across the country.
Prime Minister Imran Khan, in this regard, said that India has been attempting to target religious scholars from both Sunni and Shia sects to create sectarian conflict across the country. Meanwhile, the President said that unity and harmony were the need of the hour.
On the other hand, General Qamar Javed Bajwa termed the incident an attempt to foment unrest by Pakistan’s enemies and ensured all-out support to civil administration to bring the criminals to justice.
Pakistan has a history of sectarian enmity between Sunni and Shiite extremists. Since 2007, Karachi had been an urban epicentre of sectarian violence with militants targeting religious scholars, leaders, doctors, and traders on sectarian grounds.
Attacks by both sides have claimed hundreds of lives, including those of religious scholars. From video-sharing sites such as YouTube to social networking websites such as Facebook — there is plenty of material containing aggressive sectarian propaganda.
In this situation, we need to work consciously. We must support the state to thwart the nefarious aims of the country’s enemy. The enemy is trying to destroy the peace of Pakistan and to create an atmosphere of chaos in the country. The most important role in this regard will be played by scholars to create awareness among the people.
Furthermore, the government of Pakistan has to take immediate action in this regard and ensure the arrest of the culprits involved in the assassination of religious scholar Maualan Adil. We must unite and play a role in maintaining an atmosphere of brotherhood.
