THE spectre of sectarian killing continues to haunt Karachi. Professionals — especially doctors — as well as leaders of religious organisations and their members, teachers, small-time shopkeepers, etc, have all found themselves targeted on account of their faith.

On Wednesday, at least two individuals lost their lives to sectarian killers. One of the victims was Dr Maulana Masood Baig, son-in-law of the founding chief of Jamia Binoria al-Almia, Mufti Mohammed Naeem. On the face of it, his murder could be seen as a tit-for-tat response to two recent killings.

Also Read: Cleric, trader & activist shot dead in ‘sectarian attacks’ across city

Last week, Allama Ali Akbar Kumaili, son of Jafria Alliance Pakistan chief, Allama Abbas Kumaili, was shot dead. Before that, in July, a senior lawyer and son-in-law of prominent Shia scholar Allama Talib Jauhari was killed while on his way home from court.

However, looked at in a larger context, Dr Baig’s murder is consistent with what appears to be a shift in strategy by those carrying out this deadly campaign; targeting family members of prominent clerics.

Also Read: Son of Shia scholar Abbas Kumaili gunned down in Karachi

Usually, while most high-profile religious personalities — those considered most at risk — qualify for the highest security detail, their relatives are comparatively vulnerable.

They are ‘soft targets’ going about their daily business; mundane practicalities of life make it difficult to perpetually be surrounded by a phalanx of police mobiles. Allama Kumaili, for example, was accompanied by only two guards when he was targeted while going home from his ice factory.

Yet more vulnerable, of course, are those hapless millions who have no security at all.

And here another trend has been evident over the last two years or so, which is the targeting of victims regardless of the presence of accompanying women and children, which has resulted in the deaths of several family members as well.

Last month, a Shia man and his daughter were killed and his wife and another daughter injured in a sectarian attack in Khuda ki Basti locality.

While one can scarcely hope for a ‘code of honour’ among those who commit murder in the name of religion, it seems that the benchmark of savagery has risen still further.

And why should it not? For, while the usual platitudes emanate from official quarters, the much-vaunted Karachi Operation has been unable to stop sectarian killers running amok.

Granted, the tentacles of sectarianism are many, deep-rooted and diffuse — but that in itself demands a comprehensive, coherent and nationwide strategy which appears nowhere on the horizon.

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2014