Pakistan tackles sectarian violence

Violence between Sunnis and Shias has escalated

By Susanna Price in Islamabad

The Pakistani Government has announced a series of measures to tackle the sectarian violence which has left at least 40 people dead in the past month.

Analysts say the law will be hard to implement

In the first serious attempt to address the recent wave of violence, the cabinet and National Security Council have agreed to draw up legislation to ban the organisations involved.

The joint meeting also called on provincial governments to take action against those making provocative speeches or publishing inflammatory literature.

Extremists from both the Sunni and Shia communities have carried out the attacks on civilians in the past few weeks.

Killings

On Monday, 10 people were killed when armed motor cyclists opened fire on worshippers in a Sunni mosque in Lahore.

Earlier this month, 13 people were shot dead in Sheikupura town by an armed gang apparently targeting Shias.

Only one group, however, has admitted to carrying out attacks, while the remainder all blame each other.

Analysts say the real test will come when the law is implemented, and the government has to separate sectarian parties from other Islamic groups.

The authorities also want the provincial governments to enforce existing bans on inflammatory speeches and the display of weapons.

Religious disharmony

The joint meeting also passed the recommendations of a task-force including the setting up of a commission on religious harmony.

There have been fears of an upsurge in violence following the hanging last month of a hard-line Sunni activist for killing an Iranian diplomat 10 years ago.

Shortly afterwards, more than 12 people were killed in two days of violence in North West Frontier Province.

More than 1,000 people have died in the past two decades of sectarian violence.