Contesting Sectarian Identity in Pakistan: Narratives from the Three Cities

Pakistan is facing a new wave of sectarian divide thus literally making it difficult for minority religious groups such as Shias to practice their religious rituals with freedom and liberty. During the last decade, the sectarian killings have increased to a substantial level much to the worry of the government and general public. The present study explores the impact of the widening sectarian cleavage due to the Shia rituals during and after the sacred month of Muharram in Pakistan. Shia religious practices are being challenged and their rites held down by the extremist groups who are bent upon hurl unforgiving criticism, random killings, a plethora of hate speeches, and religious demonstrations throughout Pakistan. Such practices have made it more exacting for the Shias to commemorate their religious rituals during Muharram throughout Pakistan. The large cities like Quetta, Hyderabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Jhang have faced multifaceted sectarian clashes which made Shias vulnerable in the performance of rituals.