A file photo of an ASWJ rally. PHOTO: MUHAMMAD JAVED/EXPRESS/FILE
Hours after Dr Tahirul Qadri and his followers left Islamabad, leaders of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jama’at (ASWJ) arrived here on Friday for their ‘Paighambar-e-Inqilaab’ (Messenger of Revolution) conference.
The leaders of ASWJ, formerly known as Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan, said Dr Qadri was working on foreign agenda by holding the Long March.
ASWJ Deputy Secretary General Maulana Masoodur Rehman Usmani threatened that his organisation would announce a long march if the government does not address the “injustices done to the ASWJ.”
ASWJ Central Secretary General Dr Khadim Hussain Dhillon said that foreign elements were instigating a sectarian conflict in Quetta. Karachi, on the other hand, has been a slaughterhouse of religious scholars over the past five year, he said. “Army operation was no solution to law and order issues,” he said. Dhillon said the government should expose the foreign involvement in Quetta.
The killing of Hazara people was not sectarian as Shias were also present in other communities living in the province. He said people should know who was killing Hazara people who came to live in Pakistan from neighbouring Afghanistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 19th, 2013.
COMMENTS (29)
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Hahahahahah.... !
(Joking....but they started first)
Worse than the Klu Klux Klan.
While I'm glad to see most comments condemning, or at least criticizing, ASWJ, a notorious organization with religious and sectarian terrorist links, its disheartening to see that there is a sizeable sample who see nothing wrong with these bigoted extremists in representing them and seem to share the same twisted and prejudiced views and beliefs.
Sipah Sahabas have murdered thousands of Shias in Pakistan. They should realize that if they keep killing then some of the relatives will retaliate as well. Stop playing with fire if you are afraid to get burnt. As a Shia Muslim I am tired of all the Shia killings by ASWJ aka sipah Sahaba aka Lashkar e Jhangvi.
ASWJ has made punjabi muslims proud of their faith. For me these guys represent what punjabi muslims are. They are pride of punjab and muslims of punjab. Love you guys.
Please ban all madrassa organizations, the likes of sipah sahaba, sunni tehreek and also shia organizations whom on daily basis block m a jinnah road.
We all will prosper when our voice will be one asking to stop killing HUMAN.. Shia Sunni Christian Hindu whatever.. We all are Human who are sent by Allah to live, not to be butchered! By making sectarian divisions we all are giving terrorists more room!
@m omar: Mr Raj your information is utterly wrong. Atleast in Punjab i can assure that there is no discrimination whatsoever with Hazaras and they are pretty much respected in all walks of life. So kindly dont generalize if you have no knowledge about Pakistan and their regions. As far as Balochistan or Afghanistan is concerned i have no idea about them but dont give a sweeping statement about whole of Pakistan.
@m omar: Vast majority came in the eighties. A large number have recently immigrated. They are given automatic citizenship due to changes in law when Musa Khan was governor, and their over representation in the government and military administrative machinery in the province.
Aswj is all talks and also they dont have as many supporters as Dr. Qadri. They will never be able to take a long march ifrom lahore to islamabad.
ASWJ Formerly known as "Sipah-e-Sihaba" Pakistan, Don't these guys need to be behind bars for all the terrorist activities they have carried out? Terrorists marching to Islamabad for their rights, That's a first!
It is quite confusing that a group which has involved in numbers of sectarian violence and outlawed by Pakistan Government now threatening that it start a long march. I first humbly ask them to stop getting funds from Saudi petrousadollar. Second, they must halt spreading hatred, sectarian driven ideology and poisoning the mind of ordinary people. Thirdly, they must lay down arms and register their madarasas. Finally, they should add the words "harmony" and brotherhood to their bible.
This ASWJ is breeding ground of terrorists who operate in names of TTP & LeJ.This party is also the frontrunner in spreading hate and violence against other sects,their links on twitter/facebook are testimony to this.All religious extremist parties including ASWJ should be banned in Pakistan for peace and stability of Pakistan.
Its sad that in Pakistan, only the issues relating to minority groups are highlighted. ASWJ workers have been killed on a regular basis in the past 2 years yet no action.
I am a Sunni myself and find it nothing less than laughable that a Sunni genocide is happening inside Pakistan. When unfortunately it is the hardliner Sunnis who are busy killing Hazaras, Shias, Ahmedis, Christians and Hindus. Sure, every now and then Sunnis too are killed but comparing that to genocide is a joke. Grow up. And this former Sipah Sahaba people are nothing less than terrorists themselves. Unreal. Ulta chor kotwaal ko daantey.
ASWJ is not the representative of Pakistani people. I suspect that they are funded by enemies of Pakistan to promote sectarianism. Nobody has the right to declare anybody 'kafir'. Those who believe that Islam is their proporty are the biggest traitors, cheaters, terrorists and enemies of peace. Those who associate themselves as sunni or shia are not true muslims as in no aayat or hadith it is cited. The only identity we have is that we are muslim else is rubbish. ASWJ works on foregn agenda and like many others are working to weaken the country. I think all the leadership of such parties must be expelled/thrownout from Pakistan.
Indoctrination at it's worst...
Sympathizers of extremists and fundamentalists with an acute persecution complex. ASWJ is a rename of SSP, the parent organization of Laskhar e Jhangvi
The leaders of ASWJ, formerly known as Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan, said Dr Qadri was working on foreign agenda by holding the Long March.//
So according to him KSA is in Pakistan?
God give them some wisdom to think rationally.
@ Abdul Moiz
I am Sunni and Karachiite and dont feel any genocide going on in karachi against Sunnis, yes there are some secterian fanatics from terrorist groups like SSP/ASWJ who are being killed. and beleive me they brought it to themselves becouse they spread hatred against a community now face the heat.
mr interior minister has mentioned several times in his speech, that there is foreign hand involved in sectarian violence,i don know why our people don understand, any way we condemn sunni or shia genocides or victimization and demand justice for both
we totally support aswj regarding this issue, it is fact hundreds of sunni scholars has been mortyred in karachi and biased media had never given coverage for that,we condemn genocides of all sorts, and demand justice for all
This is exactly what everyone warned about. Now any terrorist, sectarian organisation can bring a couple of followers and demand unconstitutional things.
I feel pity for Hazaras. They are not liked in Pakistan and also in Afghanistan. I have heard that in Afghanistan, if you want to insult someone, you call him a Hazara. Do not know for sure if this is true throughout Afghanistan or only in pockets, but one of my Afghani friend told this to me many years ago.
He said people should know who was killing Hazara people who came to live in Pakistan from neighbouring Afghanistan
Pakistan came into existance in 1947, Hazaras were here before Pakistan was formed.