Situation of Ismaili Muslims in Pakistan

Ismaili Muslims (followers of the Aga Khan) are a sect of the Shia Muslim faith (Freedom House 2005; ICG 18 Apr. 2005, 3; International Religious Freedom Report 2005 8 Nov. 2005). In Pakistan, Ismaili Muslims are primarily located in Karachi and the northern region of the country, including Hunza and Baltistan (ibid., Sec. 1).

Since the late 1980s (AFP 20 Jan. 2005), violent sectarian conflict between Shia and Sunni Muslims has taken place in the Northern Areas of Pakistan (Freedom House 2005; ICG 18 Apr. 2005, 19), which includes the districts of Gilgit, Skardu, Diamir, Ghizer and Ghanche (ibid.). Although Ismaili Muslims generally "remained outside" sectarian conflict in the past (ibid.; see also Business Recorder 15 Jan. 2005), there were reports in 2005 and 2006 of Ismailis being "harassed" (Freedom House 2005; International Religious Freedom Report 2005 8 Nov. 2005, Sec. 2) and attacked by extremist groups (ibid., ICG 18 Apr. 2005, 20; Freedom House 2005).

In January 2005, a riot broke out in the town of Gilgit between Shia and Sunni extremist groups following the killing of a Shia Muslim leader by Deobandi extremists (International Religious Freedom Report 2005 8 Nov. 2005, Sec. 2; AFP 20 Jan. 2005), a Sunni militant group (ibid.). According to the International Religious Freedom Report 2005, while extremist groups "attacked properties" and "harassed" members of rival camps, both Sunni and Shia extremist groups "harassed and assaulted Ismaili followers of the Aga Khan in Gilgit, claiming they supported the opposite camp" (8 Nov. 2005, Sec. 2). The report further noted that, in Chitral and in the Northern Areas, Deobandi extremists were responsible for the vandalism of schools and health centres that had been set up by the Aga Khan Foundation (ibid., see also Freedom House 2005), an organization headed by the spiritual leader of Ismaili Muslims in Pakistan (AP 5 Jan. 2005; ibid. 26 Dec. 2004).

A 2005 International Crisis Group (ICG) report on the state of sectarianism in Pakistan indicated that the development work of the Aga Khan Foundation, such as the establishment of an Aga Khan Education Examination Board, has "given Sunni Islamist parties and militants a means of provoking anti-Ismaili sentiment" (ICG 18 Apr. 2005, 19; see also International Religious Freedom Report 2005 8 Nov. 2005, Sec. 2; Dawn 3 June 2004; Freedom House 2005 and Frontier Star 3 June 2004). In December 2004, two employees of the Aga Khan Foundation were killed in Chitral by alleged members of a Sunni Muslim extremist group (AFP 4 Jan. 2005; AP 5 Jan. 2005; International Religious Freedom Report 2005 8 Nov. 2005; ICG 18 Apr. 2005, 20). Cited in a 4 January 2005 Agence France-Presse (AFP) news article, a police officer who interrogated the alleged Sunni extremists following their arrest said that their objective was "to drive out the Aga Khan Foundation from Chitral."

According to the International Religious Freedom Report 2005, Ismailis in Pakistan claimed they were "objects of resentment of Sunni Muslims" as a result of their "comparative" economic progress (8 Nov. 2005, Sec. 2). The report also noted that some Sunni Muslim groups had produced literature "calling for violence" against certain religious groups, including Ismaili Muslims (ibid.). In addition, there was reportedly a "growing movement against Ismaili followers of the Aga Khan" within the World Council on Religions, an interfaith group formed in September 2004 to "promote dialogue and tolerance" (ibid.).

Treatment by Authorities

The International Religious Freedom Report 2005 reported that the government of Pakistan has "openly defended" the activities of the Aga Khan Foundation, despite the requests of Sunni Islamist parties and militants to "declare Ismaili followers of the Aga Khan to be non-Muslims" (8 Nov. 2005, Sec. 2; see also Dawn 3 June 2004). The report also stated that

[t]he government has not harassed Ismailis; however, [Ismailis] reported that they frequently were pressured to adopt certain practices of conservative Muslims or risk being ostracized socially (International Religious Freedom Report 2005 8 Nov. 2005, Sec. 2).

No further information on the treatment of Ismaili Muslims by the Pakistan authorities could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Agence France Presse (AFP). 20 January 2005. "Seventy Arrested Over Deadly Sectarian Attacks in Pakistan." (Factiva)

_____. 4 January 2005. "Pakistan Charges Two With Killing Aga Khan Staff." (Factiva)

Associated Press (AP). 5 January 2005. Sadaqat Jan. "Police Arrest Two Militants Accused of Slaying Aid Workers in Pakistan." (Factiva)

_____. 26 December 2004. "Two People Killed in Attack on Aid Group Office in Northwestern Pakistan." (Factiva)

Business Recorder [Karachi]. 15 January 2005. "Northern Areas Ulema Council Demands Faisal's Resignation." (Factiva)

Dawn [Karachi]. 3 June 2004. Javed Jabbar. "Allegations Most Unbecoming." http://www.dawn.com/2004/06/03/op.htm [Accessed 3 May 2006]

Freedom House. 2005. "Kashmir [Pakistan]." Freedom in the World 2005. http://65.110.85.181/inc/content/pubs/fiw/inc_country_detail.cfm?country=6887&pf [Accessed 1 May 2006]

Frontier Star [Islamabad]. 3 June 2004. "Fahim Refutes Understanding with MMA." (Factiva)

International Crisis Group (ICG). 18 April 2005. Asia Report No. 95. The State of Sectarianism in Pakistan. http://www.crisisgroup.org/library/documents/asia/south_asia/095_the_state_of_sectarianism_in_pakistan.pdf [Accessed 1 May 2006]

International Religious Freedom Report 2005. 8 November 2005. United States Department of State. http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2005/51621.htm [Accessed 1 May 2006]

Oral sources: The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) did not provide information within the time constraints of this Response.

Internet sites, including: Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), Amnesty International (AI), Country Reports 2005, Daily Times, European Country of Origin Information (ECOI) Network, Factiva, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Human Rights Watch (HRW), International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), South Asia Human Rights Documentation Centre (SADHRDC), United Kingdom (UK) Home Office, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR).