shias allege discrimination by the pakistani government since 1948, claiming that sunnis are given preference in business, official positions and administration of justice. attacks on shias increased under the presidency of zia-ul-haq, with the first major sectarian riots in pakistan breaking out in 1983 in karachi and later spreading to lahore and balochistan. sectarian violence became a recurring feature of the muharram month every year, with sectarian violence between sunnis and shias taking place in 1986 in parachinar. in one notorious incident, the 1988 gilgit massacre, osama bin laden-led sunni tribals assaulted, massacred and raped shia civilians in gilgit after being inducted by the pakistan army to quell a shia uprising in gilgit.