DUSHANBE, May 14, 2015, Asia-Plus —
The Express Tribune
, a major daily English-language newspaper in Pakistan, reported on May 13 that young activists from civil society group “We The People-Pakistani” arranged a candle-light vigil to show solidarity with the Ismaili community at Numaish chowrangi on Wednesday evening.
“We are here to show our solidarity with our Ismaili brothers and sisters” said Mohammad Fahad, a Sunni Muslim who works as a cable/internet operator.
“I am a Sunni and we live in this neighborhood with our Ismaili friends in harmony,” added Mohammad Danish, a student.
When
The Express Tribune
asked whether they were scared to hold a vigil in such a controversial neighborhood, Danish said, «We have come to this point because of being scared.”
“People were encouraged after seeing us light the candles, and they came to join us”, said Ali Sinan.
Gunmen on motorcycles boarded a bus and opened fire on commuters belonging to the Ismaili community in Karachi on Wednesday, killing at least 43, police said, in the latest attack directed against religious minorities this year.
The pink bus was pockmarked with bullet holes and blood saturated the seats and dripped out of the doors on to the concrete,
The Express Tribune
reports.
Police Superintendent Najib Khan told
Reuters
there were six gunmen and that all the passengers were Ismailis.
At least 43 people had been killed and 13 wounded, provincial police chief Ghulam Haider Jamali told media.
English leaflets left in the bus were headlined “Advent of the Islamic State!”
Militant group Jundullah, which has attacked minorities before, reportedly claimed responsibility. The group has links with the Taliban and pledged allegiance to Islamic State (IS) in November.
