HRCP for using Army to check sectarian violence
LAHORE: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has called upon the government to use military wherever it is necessary for putting an end to sectarian violence in the country.
Calling for an impartial probe to apprehend those behind Tuesday’s attack on a bus in which 18 Shia men were killed, the HRCP, in a statement issued on Thursday, expressed sorrow over the grisly sectarian attack on a Gilgit-bound bus in which 18 Shias were killed.
It welcomed the army chief’s offer to help investigate the brazen killings by attackers who were reported to be in military uniforms.
There are two aspects to it, the more important one being that the military has considerable presence in the area where the attack took place and the frequent occurrence of sectarian violence there demands that the civil authority and military join hands to ensure effective protection and prevention strategies.
At the same time, some regulation is really needed to check the sale of military uniforms in markets across the country.
The HRCP demanded that the tragic attack on the bus passengers should be probed by an impartial and independent authority, along with the series of sectarian attacks in the last 10 years, to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The government must redouble efforts to promote sectarian harmony and tolerance to prevent further bloodshed. It must also find the will to decisively act against sectarian militant groups and show commitment to effectively prosecute those apprehended for the sectarian violence. But most importantly, the root causes of sectarian violence in society need to be looked at and addressed, especially the institutional soft spot for militants.
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