Second worst act of violence against Ismailis since 1982

LAHORE: The deadly Wednesday morning attack on the Ismaili Aga Khani community in Karachi is perhaps the second worst incident of its kind since 1982, when over 60 members of this minority sect were killed by a mob in the picturesque Chitral Valley.
Some 33 years ago, an enraged and unruly crowd had set ablaze the Ismaili community buildings in Chitral, including their “Jamaat Khana” or worship place.In August 2013, twin hand grenade attacks had killed at least two Ismailis and wounded 28 others in Karachi.
According to law enforcement agencies, some unidentified people had thrown hand grenades inside two different Aga Khan worship places in the port city.Newspaper archives reveal that in February 2014, the Pakistani Taliban had announced an armed struggle against the indigenous Kalash tribe and Ismaili Muslims in Chitral, which was once dominated by members of this sect.
The 50-minute long Taliban video was released on February 2, 2014 on their media wing’s website. In this video message, the Taliban had warned the Kalash tribe to convert to Islam or face death and had condemned the Aga Khan Foundation creating an “Israel-like” state in Chitral.
It is imperative to note that the internationally famous Kalash tribe comprises of 3,500 members only and is currently plagued by gender-based violence and many women have consequently committed suicides in recent years.
It was due to this reason that in August 2013, the then Deputy Inspector General of Police, Malakand range, Haji Abdullah Khan had established women desk in the Chitral police stations to check gender-based violence and reduce the rising tendency of suicide.
The Taliban video message had stated: “The Aga Khan Foundation is running 16 schools and 16 colleges and hostels where young men and women are given free education and brainwashed to keep them away from Islam. The Foundation’s schools and hospitals, which are free for public, are espionage tools in the hands of foreign powers.
Western NGOs are promoting Kalash wine and we warn all those individuals and hotels selling it, they should stop production and selling of wine otherwise they will be sent to hell by the will of God.”