Terrorist threat: Do something else - admin advises owners of CD shops, net cafes

Police beef up security around schools, NGOs; investigates validity of a threatening letter sent by Taliban offshoot.


Muhammad Sadaqat March 19, 2012

MANSEHRA:


Fearful of a yet another string of terrorist attacks, the Mansehra administration on Sunday advised owners of CD shops and net cafes to change their line of business.


This comes after threats by a a self-proclaimed offshoot of the Pakistan Taliban, Hafsa Brigade, to bomb all internet cafes, CD shops, cable TV operators, non-government organisations (NGOs) and educational institutions offering co-education in the district if they are not shut down.

Senior House Officer (SHO) Shinkiari Qazi Javed confirmed the development, adding that the request was made during a meeting of all stakeholders called in by the district administration and the police on Sunday.

“We have requested them to change their line of business as they constantly draw the ire of the Taliban and the local religious right,” said Javed.

The SHO said there are over 70 net cafes, 200 CD shops and a dozen schools that offer co-education across the district, adding that efforts are underway to beef up security around these prospective targets.

Javed said he was sceptical over the validity of the threat; however, he said all necessary measures are being taken. “We cannot take the risk.”

The meeting was attended by owners of internet cafes, CD shops and cable TV networks, along with officials of schools offering co-education and various NGOS operating across the district.

The meeting discussed contents of the letter in detail and formulated a pre-emptive security plan.

Talking to The Express Tribune, an internet café owner, requesting to remain anonymous, said, “My entire family’s livelihood is attached to this business; how can I just pull the shutter?”

He said his café offers internet facility to students, teachers and researchers who cannot afford the facility at their homes.

Responding to a question regarding availability of ‘questionable material’ in internet cafes, the owner said that only a few cafes could be blamed for the practice. “Herding all café owners with the same stick is unjustified,” he added.

According to the police, the hand-written letter in Urdu was delivered to a local journalist, Sohail Ahmed, four days ago.

Apart from the obvious threats, the letter also warned local journalists of dire consequences if they avoid printing news items regarding Hafsa Brigade’s ideology.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Headquarters Ehjaz Khan Goga said that the name of the Taliban offshoot, Hafsa Brigade, has not come up in any terrorist attacks across the country in the past. However, he said a number of CD shop and net cafe owners in the district have reportedly received such threat letters from the outfit.

“To date, no attacks have been made by the group,” the DSP said.

He said that the police and intelligence agencies are trying to ascertain the real source of the letter. He urged all citizens to keep on the lookout for suspicious elements and immediately inform the authorities.

A local journalist, requesting anonymity, also questioned the validity of the letter.

“The Taliban now have spokespersons who can easily call the local media and inform them if they plan to go ahead with their plan; so why send a letter stealthily in the night?”

According to police sources, hundreds of men and women work in over a dozen national, multi-national and local NGOs in different parts of Mansehra. Most of these NGOs were established in response to the 2005 earthquake.

Apart from the recent sectarian attack on a bus in Harban Nala, Kohistan, in which 16 Shias were shot dead, a total of eight terrorist attacks have been reported in Hazara from July 2007 to 2011, in which 42 people were killed and 62 injured.

Three were suicide bombings — one in Haripur and two in Battagram — while the remaining were armed assaults. Taliban involvement was suspected in all of the attacks, according to the police.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 19th, 2012.

COMMENTS (1)

Talat Shah | 11 years ago | Reply

Why is Pakistan allowing Pakistan Taliban, Hafsa Brigade to even exists? These terror vermin are threatening the decent livelihood of honest men and women. Why is the Army not sent in to remove these vermin as they cause mayhem and harm to innocent citizens. Why does the rest of Pakistan allow these people to even make threats to their fellow people. Silence is NOT an option There should be ZERO tolerance and when these extremist are picked up their punishment should be so harsh that others who are thinking of joining their ranks will reconsider. .

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