Human shield formed around Shia mosque in Pakistan

Citizens Friday formed a human chain around a Shia mosque in Karachi, the largest and most populous metropolitan city in Pakistan, to send a message of unity in response to the recent deadly sectarian attacks in different cities of the country, media reported.

The human chain was formed around the Imambargah Shah-i-Najaf on the call of the Pakistan Youth Alliance (PYA), an organisation formed in 2007 comprising a network of youth activists who believe in a politically progressive, religiously harmonious and economically just Pakistan, Dawn online reported.

"The worst you can do is come and kill us and still we are standing here unarmed, belonging to various religions and sects, to show unity and solidarity with our Shia brothers and sisters, and if it requires sacrificing our lives we are ready for the same," Jibran Nasir, one of the participants, was quoted as saying.

The activist, however, added that it was a desperate situation which had been "facilitated by the government of Pakistan and other state agencies who continue to provide patronage to banned sectarian outfits".

At least 21 people were killed in an attack on Shia mosque in Peshawar city last week while another attack in an imambarah in Rawalpindi claimed three lives.