Thousands of Pakistanis hold funeral prayers for at least 37 Shia Muslims who were killed in coordinated serial bomb attacks across major cities of the militant-riddled country.
The funeral ceremonies come a day after dozens of Shia Muslims were killed in three bomb attacks on religious gatherings in the southern port city of Karachi and the garrison city of Rawalpindi on Wednesday evening.
More than 100 people were also severely wounded in the deadly attacks. Medical sources say the death toll is expected to rise as some of the wounded are in critical condition.
Several religious and political figures attending the funeral demanded the Islamabad government to take serious steps towards protecting Shia Muslims across the violence-wracked country.
Meanwhile, Ihsanullah Ihsan, a spokesman for the militants' umbrella group, the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), has claimed responsibility for the deadly bombings which sent shock waves across the militancy-hit nation.
"Our men have carried out these attacks. We pay solute to these brave mujahedeen who sacrificed their lives. Actually Shias are our declared enemies," Ihsan said.
Heavily armed militants have targeted several religious ceremonies commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) in different regions of Pakistan over the past week.
Violence has surged against Shia Muslims in different parts of Pakistan in recent months. Since the beginning of 2012, hundreds of Shias have been killed in various parts of the militancy-wracked country.
Pakistan's pro-Taliban militants have launched a violent campaign against Shia Muslims over the past years. According to local sources, militants affiliated to Taliban and al-Qaeda terrorist groups have killed thousands of Shia Muslims in the region since the start of the campaign.
The country’s Shia leaders have called on the government to form a judicial commission to investigate the bloodshed.
The killing of Shias in Pakistan has sparked international outrage, with rights groups and regional countries expressing concern over the ongoing carnage. Still, those behind the violence are rarely caught or punished.
Human Rights Watch issued a statement in September asking the Pakistani government to “urgently act” to protect the Shia Muslims in Pakistan.
Moreover, thousands of people have also lost their lives in bombings and other militant attacks since 2001, when Pakistan entered an alliance with the US in the so-called war on terror.
In addition, thousands more have been displaced by the wave of violence and militancy sweeping across the country.
Source: Press TV
Written by Mohammed
We are group of Shia students whose aim is to make reach the fact about real islam and answer the doubts raised against shiaism in mondern days.
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