PESHAWAR, Pakistan — On Friday, participants in protests across northwest Pakistan voiced their discontent towards the government during funeral prayers for 42 Shiite Muslims who fell victim to a brutal attack by gunmen the previous day, marking one of the region’s most lethal incidents in recent memory.
The victims were part of a convoy traveling from Parachinar to Peshawar, the provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, when the assault occurred on Thursday. Among those killed were six women, with an additional 20 individuals suffering injuries.
Eyewitnesses recounted that assailants emerged from a vehicle and unleashed a hail of bullets on the buses and cars within the convoy. As of now, no group has claimed responsibility for this heinous act, and authorities have not disclosed any potential motives.
The attack unfolded in Kurram, a region predominantly inhabited by Shiite Muslims. The area has seen an upsurge in sectarian violence between Shiite and Sunni groups, with numerous fatalities reported in recent months.
According to local tribal leader Jalal Bangash, the remains of the victims began arriving in Parachinar on Thursday evening. The Shiite organization Anjuman Hussainia Parachinar subsequently declared three days of mourning.
Mourners carried coffins draped in white cloth inscribed with red calligraphy, featuring the phrase “Labbaik ya Hussein” — a significant expression within the Shiite faith commemorating the martyrdom of Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, in the 7th century.
As locals paraded the coffins through the streets of Parachinar, the atmosphere was heavy with grief. Markets, schools, and shops closed down, and family members of the deceased initiated a sit-in to demand accountability from those responsible for the attack.
Ali Ghulam, who lost his nephew in the violence, expressed his sorrow, stating, “He was a very innocent and noble man, only 40, and left behind small kids. He was working to feed his children; he never fought with anyone. Now we are worried about his family and what we will do for them.”
As unrest continued, protests erupted throughout the city with demonstrators shouting anti-government slogans. Some demonstrators even set fire to checkpoints and the entrance gate of the city, prompting local elders to urge for restraint and calm among the populace.
In Pakistan, where Sunni Muslims constitute a significant majority, Shiites represent approximately 15% of the nation’s 240 million people. While both groups typically coexist peacefully, historical tensions have persisted, particularly in Kurram, where the recent conflict has claimed numerous lives since July due to a land dispute that ignited broader sectarian unrest.