Zar Alam Khan | Chitral Today
The decision by a so-called consultative committee to bar Ismaili butchers from supplying meat to Chitral city, restricting their business to a small street; in other words portraying the entire community as pariahs, marks a dangerous precedent in the region\’s communal harmony.
Equally troubling is the failure of both the district administration and Ismaili institutional representatives to stand firmly against this coercive and exclusionary move. Their silence in the face of strong-arm tactics has not only emboldened those pushing a sectarian agenda, but also left the affected community feeling abandoned and vulnerable. At a time when institutional leaderships were most needed, their inaction has deepened the sense of injustice.
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Those belonging to Sunni community in the forefront of the recent opposition to Ismaili butchers claim that meat of animals slaughtered by them (Ismailis) is Haram and its supply to Muslims a sin.
The district administration\’s surrender to their pressure leading to the restrictions openly violates the constitutional rights of the peaceful Ismaili community of Garam Chashma, which constitutes over 95pc of the local population. It also lays bare how faith is being exploited by a few to serve narrow, self-interested goals.
Chitral has long stood as a model of inter-sect harmony, where Sunnis and Ismailis have coexisted with mutual respect and shared purpose. The undermining of the mutually agreed March 8 settlement shows this is not an accident; it is a strategy.
To deny an entire community the right to freely pursue lawful business purely on the basis of religious identity is not just discriminatory, it is a direct affront to Islamic values and a violation of Pakistan’s constitution. The state’s role is to uphold justice and protect all citizens equally, not to yield to sectarian pressure through opaque, undemocratic means.
What makes this situation even more unjust is the glaring double standard. Ismaili butchers are restricted to a small area and burdened with excessive documentation while their Sunni counterparts enjoy full freedom of trade. This is not fair regulation, it is sectarian appeasement.
Worse still, the so-called consultative committee that rendered this decision was dominated by non-local members, effectively silencing the very community it affects. Excluding local voices from decisions about their own economic and social well-being is nothing short of authoritarian.
The district administration must reflect on the dangerous consequences of allowing such discrimination to take root. Regulations wrapped in religious pretext have the potential to tear apart the delicate social fabric Chitral has preserved for generations. Marginalizing the Ismaili community, widely respected across Pakistan and beyond for its dedication to education, public service and peaceful coexistence sends a damaging message to every citizen who believes in a pluralistic and inclusive society.
We call on the higher authorities to immediately revoke this biased and unconstitutional directive. The law must remain the guardian of equity and justice, not a tool for sectarian manipulation.
Chitral belongs to all its people. Let us not allow the peace of Garam Chashma to be dismantled by those who seek to divide us in the name of faith.
The recent decision by the District Administration of Chitral imposes restrictions on the business activities of the Ahle Sunnat Jamaat and the Shia Ismaili Jamaat by confining them to designated zones. It is important to note that Sunni and Ismaili communities in the region share close family ties—cousins, uncles, and extended relatives—living together in harmony for generations. This long-standing religious harmony and interwoven family relationships have been the foundation of peaceful coexistence in Chitral, especially in areas like Garam Chashma. While business activities such as meat sales and lawful animal slaughter are technically allowed, limiting them to restricted zones undermines the principle of equal economic opportunity and infringes on the rights of citizens to conduct lawful business freely across the region. The residents of Chitral, particularly in Garam Chashma, have coexisted peacefully without sectarian conflict and have historically conducted their businesses without such limitations.
This administrative decision could lead to the following consequences:
1. Law and order issues, especially due to frustration among the youth.
2. Erosion of inter-community brotherhood and mutual trust.
3. Increased difficulty for families to coexist peacefully within mixed neighborhoods. Disruption of interfaith marriages and family ties, causing social division.
4. Restriction of economic independence, particularly for those who rely on small-scale trade and slaughter-based businesses for their livelihood.
According to the Constitution of Pakistan, every citizen has the right to engage in any lawful profession, trade, or business anywhere in the country. By confining certain communities to designated zones for economic activity, this decision sets a dangerous precedent and violates these constitutional guarantees. We are also aware that such decisions may be influenced by political motives, aiming to divide communities for personal gain. In the past, similar tactics have hindered the development of Chitral, including delays in vital infrastructure and energy projects. The people of Garam Chashma reject this discriminatory zoning policy and reserve the right to challenge it through all legal and constitutional avenues, including the courts.