What’s new? The rise of a local Islamic State franchise and the growing influence

of a hard-line and violent protest movement known as “Labaik” that draws

support mostly from Pakistan’s Barelvi majority, open a new chapter in the country’s

sectarian violence, which until recently was driven largely by Deobandi

groups.

Why does it matter? These two groups, though very different, are responsible

for some of the country’s worst intercommunal bloodshed. Sectarian militancy

thus extends across the spectrum of Sunni Islamist groups. Muslim minorities,

particularly Shias, are deeply vulnerable. Vigilantism is a danger as hardliners

mobilise around allegations of blasphemy to gain political clout.

What should be done? The state has too often ignored sectarian militancy

or, when it does take action, relied solely on lethal force. It should more actively

pursue, through intelligence gathering and prosecution, those who incite or resort

to sectarian violence, while depriving groups of the civic space they use to propagate

hatred.