Significant protests have erupted in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan following the arrest of a Shia cleric under Pakistan’s newly reinforced blasphemy laws. These protests are being described as the largest ever witnessed in the region, resonating with slogans like “Chalo, chalo Kargil chalo.”
Local leaders in Gilgit have issued warnings to the Pakistan administration, raising concerns about the potential for a civil conflict. Some have even voiced calls for a merger with India as a response to the escalating situation.
The unrest in Skardu began when Shia cleric Agha Baqir al-Hussaini was apprehended due to his statements made during a religious gathering. He was booked for remarks he delivered at an ulema council meeting in Skardu, which was convened to discuss Pakistan’s efforts to intensify its blasphemy laws—a move that seemed to disproportionately affect the Shia community. While both Shia and Sunni Muslims share fundamental Islamic beliefs, the Shia tradition does not venerate figures who opposed the fourth Caliph, Ali.
Pakistan, a predominantly Sunni country, contains a significant Shia population in Gilgit-Baltistan. Over the years, successive Pakistani governments, starting with Gen Zia-Ul Haq’s regime, have attempted to alter the demographic composition of Gilgit-Baltistan by relocating Sunni residents to the region.
