As Pakistan rolled out ceremonial honours for Prince Rahim Aga Khan V, ordinary Shias across Parachinar, Kurram and Quetta continued to live under the shadow of bomb blasts, targeted killings and sectarian hate. Behind the carefully managed optics of inclusivity lies a darker reality of fear, discrimination and systemic failure that Islamabad can no longer conceal.

“Are we the citizens of Pakistan, asks every Shia of Pakistan from its failed Marshal and meek Political leadership” Pakistan has long struggled with internal divisions fueled by sectarianism, extremism, and militant networks. These forces have repeatedly targeted vulnerable groups, creating an atmosphere of fear and mistrust. The Shia community, despite being a significant portion of the Muslim population, has often found itself under threat from extremist organizations that

When expressions of faith begin to trigger questions of loyalty, citizenship itself comes under strain. The controversy surrounding Asim Munir and Shia clerics is less about one remark and more about a recurring pattern of suspicion. By blurring the line between identity and allegiance, the state risks turning difference into distrust. The result is a fragile and conditional sense of belonging.