Iranian and Saudi flags

After the Islamic revolution in Iran, the already divided Shia-Sunni communities in Pakistan further polarised. Saudi being based on a puritanical form of Islam (Wahabism) and Iran currently lead by hardline Shiite Clerics are staunch rivals of each other. They are trying to expand their influence throughout the region to flex their muscles as regional powers.

On one hand Iran is financing and supporting Assad in Syria, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Houthis in Yemen and many Shia Militias and political parties across the globe and on the other hand Saudis are trying to counter Iranian influence by supporting Anti-Assad rebels in Syria, Saad Hariri (Son of Rafique Hariri) in Lebanon, President Mansour Hadi in Yemen and many other Sunni movements.

This quest for regional hegemony has spotted Pakistan a victim too and support of both for different political parties and militant groups has ignited the infraction between Sunni and Shia Communities.

Iran has funded many seminaries across Pakistan to further its influence and is constantly trying to dig into the society.

Saudi has also financed many seminaries and even both are blamed for supporting many terrorist groups in Pakistan. Iran is blamed for financing and providing training to Shiite organizations such as TNFJ (Tehreek-e-Nifaz Fiqah Jafria) and Sipah-e-Mohammad and Saudis are blamed for supporting Lashkar-e-Jhangavi and many other extremist organizations.

Pakistan being a majority Sunni country with almost 15% Shiite population cannot afford such communal differences and something must be done to bring both of these communities on the same table. Extremist organization irrespective of their nature or origin should be banned and strict action should be taken against them, the law enforcement agencies should deal them with an iron hand.

All political parties who are involved in sectarian politics should not be allowed to hold public rallies and take part in elections. There should be a complete ban on hate literature which is freely available in the market and the authors and bookshops which are involved in selling these nuisance materials should be taken to the court of law.

The judiciary should be reformed to provide speedy justice and not to let this process a futile exercise. Another important thing is that Youth should be educated with a true and enlightened version of Islam telling them how the patient was the prophet(s.a.w) even with his enemies and he killed none based on their religion or belief.

Last but not the last, we should tell both of our friends, Iran and Saudi Arabia not to be involved in our internal affairs and this message should be communicated loud and clear and in a harsh tone.