Law enforcers brace for Muharram as terror threat looms large

Intelligence report identifies terror outfits operational in the city and some of their key members

KARACHI:

Law enforcement agencies claim to have undertaken special security measures for the month of Muharram, in the wake of rising incidents of sectarian violence in the port city. In 2015 alone, at least 86 people have been killed in incidents of violence believed to be motivated by sectarian strife. 

One of the most devastating attacks on a Muslim minority community in the city's history was the Safoora Goth bus carnage, when gunmen boarded a bus transporting members of the Ismaili community and shot dead 45 people, leaving another six injured. Though law enforcers claim to have arrested nearly half-a-dozen suspects, including the alleged mastermind of the attack, a number of their comrades are still at large.

An internal reported prepared by intelligence agencies, which was later dispatched to the law enforcement agencies, states that the Karachi operation has brought a noticeable change in the city, with a marked improvement in law and order and a decrease in all manifestations of violence or crime. Nevertheless, much more efforts are required to eradicate sectarian and religion-motived violence, plaguing the metropolis for about three decades, stated the report.

The report goes on to identify Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Sipah-e-Muhammad Pakistan (SMP), Mehdi Force, affiliates of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Jundullah, alQaeda and a foreign militant organisation that are active in Karachi.

Though the spokesperson for the Sindh police has denied the existence of any such list, the report, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune states that the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) works in close coordination with the TTP and the proscribed Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) to target members of the Shia community. The organisation was involved in some of the worst sectarian attacks in Karachi. Sleeper cells of the outfit are still in a position to carry out terrorist activities in the city. Known terrorists or commanders of the LeJ at large include Qari Ataur Rehman alias Naeem Bukhari, Rizwan alias Asif Chohto, Gul Zareen alias Umer, Qari Jameel Burmi alias Qari Sahab, Danish alias Kalu and Nadeem Ishaq, who is a retired official of the Pakistan Army and a resident of Orangi Town.

The report states that they are SMP and Mehdi Force are involved in the targeted killings of their Sunni rivals but have surprisingly never remained in the requisite focus of the law enforcement agencies. Consequently, their networks are lesser known. The report also notes that most activists of the SMP and Mehdi Force also work for a political party - the Muttahida Qaumi Movement. Besides, the Jafferia Disaster Cell (JDC) is also suspected of financing their activities. Moreover, there are indications that their handlers are based in Iran and Malaysia.

Hardcore activists of these organisations may resurface in case of any activity on the part of their rivals or on the direction of their handlers. The known terrorists of SMP, yet to be neutralised, include Raza Imam alias Manzar, Muhammad Rashid alias Hassan Mota, Maulana Zulqarnain, Syed Asif Hussain Zaidi alias Qureshi and Kazim Raza Bukhari alias Chote Bhai.

The report also shares details of the known commanders and members of different factions of the TTP. It also points out the presence of a 'Foreign Militant Organisation' (an apparent reference to the Islamic State), warning that the said organisation has successfully penetrated the extremist elements and educated Urdu-speaking youth of Karachi through the internet or social media. Several of its activists who are believed to be involved in major cases such as the Safoora Goth incident, murder of Sabeen Mehmood and the attack on Dr Debra Lobo are still at large.

Organisations of terror

Lashkar-e-Jhangvi

Sipah-e-Muhammad Pakistan/Mehdi Force

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan

TTP (Sajna Group)

TTP (Swat/ Mullah Fazlullah Group)

TTP (Mohmand)

TTP (Shahayar Group)

Al-Qaeda

Jamaatul Ahrar

Jundullah

Foreign Militant Organisation

Published in The Express Tribune, October 16^th, 2015.