NEW YORK, Nov 12: The Pakistani government should urgently act to prevent deadly sectarian attacks on the Shia community that escalate during the holy month of Muharram, the New York-based Human Rights Watch said in a statement.

In recent years, extremist groups affiliated with the Taliban and Al Qaeda in Pakistan have claimed responsibility for attacks that have killed dozens of Shias, particularly during Muharram processions.

“The Pakistani authorities need to put all necessary security measures in place to protect the Shia population. Arresting extremist group members responsible for past attacks would be an important first step,” the HRW said.

Extremist groups have been attacking Ashura processions in Pakistan for several years, it said. In the days before Ashura in 2012, some 30 people were killed and at least 100 were wounded in five attacks. This deadly campaign culminated in a suicide bombing in Dera Ismail Khan that targeted an Ashura procession, killing at least five people and wounding more than 90 others. The Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for attacks.

The Pakistani Taliban and its affiliates such as the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi have conducted unprecedented attacks this year on the country’s Muslim and non-Muslim communities, claiming responsibility for most major bombings and vowing further violence.

Human Rights Watch has recorded dozens of attacks on Shias in 2013, including some of the worst attacks on the community in Pakistan’s history.—Masood Haider