In this interview, I discussed the mistreatment and persecution that Shias have been facing in Pakistan. We talked about this issue and other issues with Mr. Shozab Askari. He is a lecturer of Pakistan Studies at a university in Rawalpindi. Being a Shia, he had a tough childhood, experiencing mistreatment and discrimination at school. He estimates that approximately 16,000 Shias have been killed in Pakistan, noting that some Sunnis have also been targeted due to their Shia-style names.
In agreement with Dr. Andreas Rieck, the German author of "The Shias of Pakistan: An Assertive and Beleaguered Minority," Askari concurs that Shias constitute about 15% of Pakistan's population.
Having spent his formative years in Sargodha, Punjab, Askari pursued his master's degree at the National Defense University in Islamabad. Subsequently, he completed his MPhil in Pakistan Studies at Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, focusing his dissertation on the politics of exclusion with a particular emphasis on Pakistani Christians.
In addition to his academic endeavors, Askari is an active voice on social issues. His writings, featured in various Pakistani publications, delve into a range of topics affecting society. Notably, his contributions are also recognized by the Voice of German Urdu Service, where his work is regularly published on their website, showcasing his insights to a wider audience beyond national borders.
While acknowledging the importance of Pakistan Studies as a subject, Askari recognizes that sometimes facts are distorted within its curriculum. He didn't dispute the fact that Pakistan Studies can be blamed for promoting hatred against Hindus.
His father served as an assistant to Grand Ayatollah Allama Shaikh Muhammad Hussain Najafi (1932–2023), a prominent Pakistani Twelver Shia Marja who operated a significant Shia seminary in Sargodha. Mr. Askari also attended this seminary from 2004 to 2007.
Allama Najafi's influence earned him a place in every edition of "The Muslim 500: The World's Most Influential Muslims" since 2010. Notably, a Marja, also known as a grand ayatollah, holds the highest authority within the Twelver Shia community, issuing legal rulings within Islamic law for followers and clerics under their jurisdiction. As of 2023, there were approximately 50 living Marajas, predominantly residing in Iran or Iraq.
It may be added here that Agha Jawad Naqvi's photograph has been added to the thumbnail. He is a prominent Shia cleric in Pakistan.
#shia #shias #pakistani shias #pakistanivlogger #muslim #muslims #fatwa #kafir #sunny #pakistan
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Shakil Chaudhary is an Islamabad-based journalist, author and researcher. He is an alumnus of Government College, Lahore. Subsequently, he studied international relations at Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad and media at the London School of Economics. He has worked for several English-language newspapers.
He has written a critically acclaimed bilingual book, Handbook of Functional English (Ferozsons), to help those who wish to improve their English skills. Prof. Tariq Rahman, one of the finest linguistic scholars in South Asia, has praised it in these words: “This book is an excellent guide for the South Asian user of the English language. It gives examples of both the British and American varieties of English and provides guidelines to avoid the common errors of most Pakistanis when they write and speak English. It is also a comprehensive guide for pronunciation, vocabulary, editing and all other aspects of English usage. It has been written with great care and attention. I recommend it to students, editors, writers and other users of English in Pakistan.”
Shakil has conducted many workshops on communication, writing and critical thinking skills. He is a former president of the Progressive Writers Association, Islamabad (2021-2022).
If you want to see his most popular videos, here are the links to them.
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