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The Shias of Pakistan: An Assertive and Beleaguered Minority
The Shias of Pakistan are the world's second largest Shia community after that of Iran, but comprise only 10-15 per cent of Pakistan's population. In recent decades Sunni extremists have increasingly targeted them with hate propaganda and terrorism, yet paradoxically Shias have always been fully integrated into all sections of political, professional and social life without suffering any discrimination. In mainstream politics, the Shia- Sunni divide has never been an issue in Pakistan.
Shia politicians in Pakistan have usually downplayed their religious beliefs, but there have always been individuals and groups who emphasised their Shia identity, and who zealously campaigned for equal rights for the Shias wherever and whenever they perceived these to be threatened. Shia 'ulama' have been at the forefront of communal activism in Pakistan since 1949, but Shia laymen also participated in such organisations, as they had in pre-partition India.
Based mainly on Urdu sources, Rieck's book examines, first, the history of Pakistan's Shias, including their communal organisations, the growth of the Shia 'ulama' class, of religious schools and rivalry between "orthodox" "ulama" and popular preachers; second, the outcome of lobbying of successive Pakistan governments by Shia organisations; and third, the Shia-Sunni conflict, which is increasingly virulent due to the state's failure to combat Sunni extremism.
Shia politicians in Pakistan have usually downplayed their religious beliefs, but there have always been individuals and groups who emphasised their Shia identity, and who zealously campaigned for equal rights for the Shias wherever and whenever they perceived these to be threatened. Shia 'ulama' have been at the forefront of communal activism in Pakistan since 1949, but Shia laymen also participated in such organisations, as they had in pre-partition India.
Based mainly on Urdu sources, Rieck's book examines, first, the history of Pakistan's Shias, including their communal organisations, the growth of the Shia 'ulama' class, of religious schools and rivalry between "orthodox" "ulama" and popular preachers; second, the outcome of lobbying of successive Pakistan governments by Shia organisations; and third, the Shia-Sunni conflict, which is increasingly virulent due to the state's failure to combat Sunni extremism.
564 pages, Paperback
First published March 15, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 10, 2025
Ajeeb hain ye khandan e ishq ke log;
Qatl hote hain magar kam nahin hote
A book having above-mentioned verse on its title and a content line to cover different eras like 'spread of Sh'ism in north-west India until 1947', 'Shias and Pakistan Movement'; and then separate chapters on Shias during each military and civil government in Pakistan till 2013, creates lot of expectation for a reader. However, the book does not meet expectations mainly due to two reasons:
(i) repetitions of same topics (unresolved demands of Shia for separate electoral, separate Dinyat for Shia students, Auqaf matters and freedom to practice azadari. Each era contains some discussion on internal disputes among different Shia organisations, reference to criticism of Shia Ulema for Zakirs that later have made their majlis as a source of income by creating false accounts of history for emotionally charging people at the cost of ignoring basic tenants of religion like offering prayers, paying zakat, etc. Its only in the chapter on Zia regime, when the book start talking about spreading sectarian parties like Lashkar e Jhangvi which destroyed the total fabric of tolerance in the society. The writer does not put all blame on Zia and made him responsible only for not taking action against armed sectarian groups.
(ii) While the first point is unavoidable as this is how the history progressed, but my personal problem with the book is it only caters the history from religious organisation perspective and does not talk about common Shia or even prominent Shias in different walks of life in Pakistan and their contribution or the problems this community have to face across history on account of social interaction like inter-sect marriages, representation in media, army, etc.
If you are just interested to go through a compiled history of conventions by different Shia organsiation, their interaction with governments, then you may find this book interesting. If you are looking for a history of common Shia people, their social contributions, problems they have faced to led a normal routine life in Pakistan, then this book would not fulfil your expectations.
Qatl hote hain magar kam nahin hote
A book having above-mentioned verse on its title and a content line to cover different eras like 'spread of Sh'ism in north-west India until 1947', 'Shias and Pakistan Movement'; and then separate chapters on Shias during each military and civil government in Pakistan till 2013, creates lot of expectation for a reader. However, the book does not meet expectations mainly due to two reasons:
(i) repetitions of same topics (unresolved demands of Shia for separate electoral, separate Dinyat for Shia students, Auqaf matters and freedom to practice azadari. Each era contains some discussion on internal disputes among different Shia organisations, reference to criticism of Shia Ulema for Zakirs that later have made their majlis as a source of income by creating false accounts of history for emotionally charging people at the cost of ignoring basic tenants of religion like offering prayers, paying zakat, etc. Its only in the chapter on Zia regime, when the book start talking about spreading sectarian parties like Lashkar e Jhangvi which destroyed the total fabric of tolerance in the society. The writer does not put all blame on Zia and made him responsible only for not taking action against armed sectarian groups.
(ii) While the first point is unavoidable as this is how the history progressed, but my personal problem with the book is it only caters the history from religious organisation perspective and does not talk about common Shia or even prominent Shias in different walks of life in Pakistan and their contribution or the problems this community have to face across history on account of social interaction like inter-sect marriages, representation in media, army, etc.
If you are just interested to go through a compiled history of conventions by different Shia organsiation, their interaction with governments, then you may find this book interesting. If you are looking for a history of common Shia people, their social contributions, problems they have faced to led a normal routine life in Pakistan, then this book would not fulfil your expectations.
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February 20, 2015good
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews