Activists of the Khyber Agency-based militant outfit, Lashker-e-Islam, have demanded payment from the resident of the Acheni Bala union council in exchange for their safety, local villagers told The Express Tribune on Wednesday.
They said that militants of the banned outfit came to their village, a part of Peshawar district, and after a show of muscle in the shape of an armed patrol inside the village they informed the residents that each house-owner must pay Rs5,000, besides a monthly payment of Rs1,000 – if they don’t comply, the militants warned, the residents will have their houses blown up.
“They were well armed and riding bikes. There are at least 500 houses in the locality and the local residents must obey the order to avoid confrontation as we are poor people and cannot afford it,” explained a resident who requested anonymity.
Replying to a question, he said that they had no option but to obey the order as the police too had abandoned them despite the fact that their village, known as Mera Acheni, lies in the settled district of Peshawar.
“Adding further insult to our injuries, after the militants came the activists of the so-called Aman lashkar of the Shalober area of Khyber Agency, who informed us that anyone who pays the amount to the militants will be dealt with harshly,” he added, saying they had been given the option to choose between the two.
People in surrounding villages have been similarly harassed.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 16th, 2012.
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Khyber Agency: <<>> The local hindus are agree to give the jezya for there safty,and They are Happy to give only one thusand invally.
These ppl just cannot be Pakistanis. These are RAW / MOSSAD / CIA ( RMC) agents. And even if it is true, I don't see, what is wrong here. Protection requires infrastructure, that one needs to buy anyway. The media is just making a mountain out of a mole-hill. Poor ppl must not get distracted by wrong propaganda of paid agents.
They must be foreign funded terrorist. Pakistan's borders are not well gaurded on either side and that is why foreign terror masters and their paid terrorist are operating so openly. Pakistan needs to beef up its security and urgently recruit and increase manpower in security, border police and military. . . Pakistan has the manpower to that end. They cannot afford to leave loose ends and vacums for the foreign terror masters to fill in under all kinds of titles and names to mask their identity.
@kaalchakra:
what a Great... protection money, as per your perception,with a threat that either you allow me to protect you by paying us else we will blow your houses. What an innovative idea of protection? Like minded persons can follow their footprints !
@Mirza:
Mafia tax is the money payable for protection from them itself which is applicable here also.
@Aqeel Ahmed:
Great thoughts.....? a great pious Muslim Rights Body is engaged in defending the Islam by coercing the poor and helpless Muslim Pakistani villagers. Please cross check the truth of the news. persons who stand by these outfits also are defaming the Pakistan and the Islam.
@syed Imran:
Curse of Allah will not fall on them as per your wishes. True Musalmaan will not only be sympathetic to the poor and helpless but will also openly condemn those outfits, Hollow sympathy is useless.
Take it easy, MarkH. Thank the good Lord Almighty that He Who Knows Best does not agree with you. The most Beneficent One gives us things whether we are wise enough to request for them or not. Heck, He gives protection to the protected even when the protected detest the very idea.
The good Lord has a deal exclusively with those who have the responsibility to protect. Nothing wrong with that.
@Uzair Javaid: I can fly. Did you know that? It's only a conspiracy set in motion by gravity that keeps me on the ground.
@Kaalchakra: No, it's simply not their duty to pay anyone for any such thing. You give money in exchange for requested services. Requested ones. The requested ones are already getting money. The military. Whether they carry out the deed or not. Though feel free to quote me some laws or even religious passages that back your borderline-retarded nonsense up.
where is our police and army -sleeping?
These sick freaks are all operated by the great Black-Ops in Pakistan proudly run by CIA. nobody gets as low as they go to the extent of literally make people hate Islam and Muslims. These maniacs shall now only face our guns and eradicated from our land
Rizvan,
Shias, Hindus, Ahmadis, Christians, anyone who gets protection must pay. One picks up guns against bad people, the oppressors, not against good people, the protectors.
Do I see extortionists using garb of religion?No Allah-fearing person will ever threaten people
@Aqeel Ahmed: Mr. Aqeel. No "individual" or "group" anywhere in the world is allowed to challenge the state or set up a militia to "defend" themselves. It is the job of the state to provide all the basics of life to its people, inlcuding safety/ security. If the state has failed, why arent the politicians being voted out? Why do these defenders need to force "jaziya" out of non-muslims, kidnap, sell drugs, steal cars to prop themselves up? What if Shias and Ahmadis pick up guns to defend themselves from us Sunnis? Would be nice huh?
Mirza
When the powerful fail to meet their due obligations, when injustice threatens to overpower, it is the duty of every man, woman and child to pay those who take up the responsibility for protecting them.
@Kaalchakra: What is the difference between this and Jagga/Mafia tax? They also provide protection to the tax payers.
When your govt doesn't control vast sections of your country - the guy with the gun takes what he wants. Maybe you should work on that.
@A J Khan: These cases don't provide so much glamorous media coverage to judges. I hope you got your answer.
@A J Khan: You got me there! I am sorry to say that the courts love every religious fanatic and release them promptly. The order of the day is "no mullah left behind". Thanks and regards, Mirza
@Kaalchakra - How come this group is fighting on behalf of the villagers ? Sad they have named their organization associated with Islam :(
Zehra, you don't have to call it jazia, but it's the duty of the local people to support people who are fighting on their behalf. What's wrong if they demand some money?!
Where is the state? Where is the world's leading intelligence agency? Is it an act of an Indian, American, or Israeli? I wonder what is the role of ISI if it cannot perform its foremost duty that is to provide safety to its citizens and to protect their lives. Those keeping silent or supporting their political brethrens e.g PTI, JI, JUI, need to know that they are nobody's sons and will soon start attacking your houses, villages and children.
it simply cant be jazya, jazya was a tax on nonmuslims it is not applicable on muslims living under a muslim rule!! now the girat brigade and others will maintian a silence only!! it is extension of lal masjid all over
Why do our ministers attend rallies that share the same platforms as these barbarians , especially the punjab ministers - have they learned nothing there needs to be zero tolerance against the barbarians and extremist ideology or pakistan is doomed
Can the government of Pakistan provide protection to the village of poor Hindus here? Jazya in 21st century!!!
Wipe out which Lashkar? The pro-goverment or the anti-goverment ones..Since both r threatening the villagers
Is there any justification of keeping a seven lac strong army when many parts of the country are in the hands of these goons who are now playing the role of warlords and collecting money as their counter-parts in Afghanistan ?
High time the authorities start earning their salaries! wipe out this so-called lashkar!
@Mirza: Are you sure that COURTS in Pakistan has the same views about them as you and most of the Pakistanis think?????
Religion for sale by the ever increasing religion trading companies often called religious parties and banned outfits. Each of these religion trading company has its own ways of collecting “Bhatta” named after various noble religious decrees.
I wonder under how the new savior-to-be of Pakistan, Imran Khan views this particular group to be vis a vis Pakistan? Does he also think that they are no threat ( as in the case of Taliban) to the country once the Americans leave or he comes to power? If he fails to realize that these people are aiming for the soul of Pakistan then even God cannot help Pakistan.
They call it Jazya, but it is extortion. Nothing to do with any religion. They are a bad name to Pakistan. It is about time the innocent people of Pakistan see their ugly face.
Curse of Almighty Allah on these barbarians and Kafirs