Lashkar-e-Jhangvi leader provided police guards
Two police men have been assigned security duties at the residence of Malik Ishaq, recently released from a Lahore prison.
Rahim Yar Khan district police officer Sohail Tajik told The Express Tribune that the guards were deployed at the Mohallah Islam Nagar house of the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi leader in view of the threat posed by a large number of people visiting him everyday He said more officials would be deployed to the place if the need arose. The LeJ has been declared a terrorist organisation and banned.
A Rahim Yar Khan police security branch official speaking on condition of anonymity said four guards of a private security company were also performing security duties at the place.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) Punjab president Shamasur Rehman Muavia expressed satisfaction over security arrangements at Ishaq’s home.
Ishaq has been acquitted in 34 of the 44 cases against him involving killing of 70 people, most of them belonging to the Shia sect. He has been released on bail in the remaining 10 cases, including the attack on Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore.
‘Prisons will not stop our mission’
“Lashkar-e-Jhangvi is not a terrorist outfit. It was set up to ensure proper respect for the companions of the Holy Prophet (PBUH),” Malik Ishaq said on Friday.
He was speaking to a delegation of clerics belonging to the Majlis Ahrar-i-Islam at his residence. He said foreign powers were responsible for terrorism in the country. He said these powers using as front an organisation named International Lashkar-e-Jhangvi.
He said it was this organisation that had been accepting responsibility for terrorist attacks in the country and not the LeJ he had belonged to. Criticising Interior Minister Rehman Malik for accusing LeJ of terrorist acts, he said Malik appeared to be a spokesperson for the ILJ and not the federal government.
Ishaq also said he was committed to continuing his fight mission of defending the companions of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) against slander and irreverence. He said he would not abandon the mission even if he was again jailed for it.
“Our struggle will continue from the platform of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jammat,” he said. He said hundreds of LeJ workers had laid down their lives for the cause.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 23rd, 2011.
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@mussarat you are very much correct in saying that LeJ IS THE MOST DANGEROUS RELIGIOUS OUTFIT and this organised /patronised company is defaming the true DEEN (ISLAM) by spreading hatred among muslim umma.infact they all are being financed by the STATES that want to protect their own vested interests.i have many things to say but this society is getting intolerable.Kharal is nothing but a true dedicated professional.
He is a BABA from India. Look at the garland around his NECK.
@Khadim Husain:
Being a journalist myself with prestigious news agency APP for about thirty five years I personally know about the integrity of Mr. Kharal. He is a very good investigative reporter like Ansaar Abbasi. Sitting in United States I can realised under difficult and dangerous situation Kharal is reporting.
He is not touching any new issue but reviving "Old reminiscences" of our culture and trying to expose some hidden so-called "Jihadist". He is very correct in mentioning about LeJ, the most dangerous religious outfit in pakistan that instigated once killing of Daniel Pearl of WSJ, once very good friend of my mine when he was in Lahore for two or three days.
It is not harm in providing "Fool Proof " security to the activist of LeJ because we already provided top most security to Osma Bin Laden and hopefully Aymen Al Zawahiri and an one-eyed Leader Mullah Omar are also hiding somewhere in Pakistan, most probably either in Khushaab or in the vicinity of Kahuta, the place that houses nuclear facility of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
Dear Kharal, becareful of the elements who wiped out noted Pakistani journalist Saleem Shahzad and don't be shy of telling truth.
It is truth and fearless media who has to save Pakistan and purge world from terrorism and the terrorists.
Long Live Pakistan and May God protect my Loving Mother Land, Amen.
Mussarat
Malik Ishaq whose first terror attack took place 14 years ago when he targeted a ‘Majlis’ in which 12 people were killed. Unfortunately, eight among the complainants and witnesses of the incident have been killed so far. Now only one complainant and three witnesses are alive. One wonders if they are also awaiting their elimination; more so as the jubilant Malik Ishaq has been released on bail and has the blessings of the Punjab government. He can now eliminate the rest of the witnesses and get acquittal from the helpless courts. Individuals, political parties, provincial governments, and the judiciary need to seriously introspect themselves in this regard. The point to ponder is: are we a country promoting terrorism or not? Thoughtless denials prove nothing except giving a hidden feeling of guilt. Here is Punjab government doing whatever it can to protect terrorists that support the PML-N. Please also recall that the same Punjab government had allocated financial support worth Rs 86 million to the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) from the Punjab budget last year. One wonders what the role of the provincial government is in such a situation. One also wonders what should be the role of the judiciary, which is fond of taking suo motu notices. How long this hobnobbing between elected representatives and killers will continue and how long terrorist will continue playing havoc with this country?
Rana Sana of PML (N) is a relative of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry who also hail from Faisalabad. With Saudi blessing anything can happen in this country. A clear divide now is obvious chose PML (N) Talibans or Moderate Pakistani politicians.
everyone blaming the govt..what about his majesty the chief justice of pakistan, his crue, and his system..What a shame
Vienna,23-07-2011 Do Ahle Sunnat wal Jammat people carry garlands on neck like qafr Hindus? There now appears another outfit, International Lashkar e Janghvi as against the pure Lashkar e Janghvi. It is indeed a complicated world to identify real terrorists and holy humans, the real associates of the Prophet,MPBUH. -Kulamarva Balakrishna
So goes the preception we shelter known terrorist any question about this left any more
Authorities believe Mohammed Aqeel, an LJ member, was the mastermind behind the March 2009 attack on the Sri Lanka national cricket team.[5]
@Ahmed k.: Panjab govt. giving him monthly stipend, giving him security guards etc. Still you people are not able to smell who was really behind the attack on Srilankan team.
Outcomes of so called 'Independent Judiciary'
After all he is our "strategic asset"
A murderer being provided protection by the Govt??? What a country!!!!
He is simply a terrorist and a criminal. By changing names LeJ to XYZ, the character and philosophy of the terrorists does not change. Changing name is a legal maneuvering to cover themselves from the grip of the law and international sanctions. To all his supporters, would you leave your kids under his guardianship?
Criminals being supported and safeguarded by criminals. 10% anyone?
This is an ultimate slap on all the people killed & maimed by his orders to terrorize the innocent people.
His victims are not just minorities; his hands are full of Sunni Muslims blood as well. Obviously he does not understands his own religion, the day he does he will propagate peace with Human kind.
I would love to know who ordered the police protection and what his means of finances are for his Satanic activities.
Let see if I got this right -- . 1) Terrorist responsible for 40+ deaths gets released from prison because witnesses wont testify against him because the govt won't provide any protection for them. .. 2) Terrorist was paid by the govt while he was in prison. .. 3) Government provides protection for the terrorist after he is released from prison. .. And you wonder why the rest of the World thinks Pakistan sponsors terrorism?
If any reporter did not have the access to verify any claim then don't believe absurd reporter who believes on "condition of anonymity", whole pakistan's media is running on false reporting. Why not editor in chief himself verify such claims by reporters sitting at drawing rooms and trying to divide community on sectarian and ethnic basis. Fake and false reporting is a cancer, and instigating sectarianism is a crime. What express tribune wants to achieve from this report, and why mr. Kharl is repeatedly sending waves of hatred. Read basis of his report and what is illegal scenario that he tried to draw attention. "A Rahim Yar Khan police security branch official speaking on condition of anonymity said four guards of a private security company were also performing security duties at the place". Shame on express tribune for dividing community.
The fact he is being provided protection by the government is farcical. What about protection for the thousands whose deaths he is responsible for?
When will we hold the evil people responsible? When will we realize you can't allow anything in the name of religion?
I am deeply disgraced to call this man my fellow Pakistani, and to shelter such filth in my nation. Here are some things to know about what this man and his organization represent.
LJ members kidnapped and killed U.S. journalist Daniel Pearl in January 2002. In March 2002
LJ members bombed a bus, killing 15 people, including 11 French technicians.
On March 17, 2002 at 11:00 AM, two members of the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi bombed the International Protestant Church in Islamabad during a church service. Five people were killed and 40 people were injured, mostly expatriates. In July 2002 Pakistani police killed one of the alleged perpetrators and arrested four Lashkar-e-Jhangvi members in connection with the church attack. The LJ members confessed to the killings and said the attack was in retaliation for the U.S. attack on Afghanistan.
The Pakistani government Interior Ministry said that the suicide bomber involved in the assassination of Benazir Bhutto,[4] along with the death of 20 others in Rawalpindi, belonged to Lashkar-e-Jhangvi on December 27, 2007.[4]
Authorities believe Mohammed Aqeel, an LJ member, was the mastermind behind the March 2009 attack on the Sri Lanka national cricket team.[5]
How sad that the ordinary citizens have no security whether they are followers of another tradition, or sect or just plain citizens. But this thug has been provided protection by the state. How about the murders that he committed? I will not be surprised if the next move of Pakistani government is to present him "Honors Guard.”
And we wonder why the rest of the world thinks we harbour, nurture and protect terrorists...? State security for the leader of a banned outfit while normal people like myself worry each time we leave the house? This country gets more messed up each day!!
"He said hundreds of LeJ workers had laid down their lives for the cause."
and what about the many hundreds of innocent Shias, Ahmedis, Christians, Sufis etc KILLED by the brave LeJ mujahideen-e-Islam??
'Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities' - Voltaire