Interior ministry report: Up to 43 groups banned for terror links
Most of the outfits outlawed in the current year were based in G-B and Balochistan.
ISLAMABAD:
Up to 43 organisations, trusts and groups have been outlawed so far by the government for alleged involvement in terrorist activities, according to figures released by the interior minister.
Of the 14 organisations that were banned in the current year, most were based in Gilgit-Baltistan and Balochistan. A detailed list of terrorist bodies was presented in the National Assembly by Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Friday.
From amongst the 43 banned groups, two were banned before the 9/11 attacks for propagating sectarian violence namely Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and Sipha-e-Muhammad – both declared illegal in 2001.
Three organisations found on the list were proscribed by the UN. One of the three groups included Jamaatud Dawa (JuD), which was accused by Indian authorities of complicity in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
Though JuD remained proscribed by the UN, it was not banned by the government until 2002 when its name had been changed to Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Several banned outfits had resurfaced under fresh names. The list revealed that these included Sipah-e-Sahaba (SSP) which changed its name to Millat-e-Islamia Pakistan and Ahle Sunnat wal Jamaat (ASWJ).
The UN had passed a resolution in 2005 emphasising that Pakistan should ban three organisations namely the Hafiz Saeed-led JuD, Al-Akhtar Trust, and Al-Rashid Trust. However, these organisations have not been banned yet.
Four organisations, three from G-B and one from Karachi were banned in 2011. Five Balochistan-based organisations were banned in the year 2010.
Almost two years after the 9/11, al Qaeda was put on the list for banned organisations.
Four organisations were banned in 2008 including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). In 2006, two organisations were banned, one of them being the Balochistan Liberation Army. Khairunnisa International Trust was banned in 2004.
Seven organisations were banned in 2003 including Hizbut Tahrir. Six organisations were banned in 2002, including the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Sipha-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP). Millat-e-Islamia Pakistan, the cover name for SSP, was banned in 2003. Ahle Sunnat wal Jamaat, another cover name for SSP, was banned by the interior ministry in February this year.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 9th, 2012.
Up to 43 organisations, trusts and groups have been outlawed so far by the government for alleged involvement in terrorist activities, according to figures released by the interior minister.
Of the 14 organisations that were banned in the current year, most were based in Gilgit-Baltistan and Balochistan. A detailed list of terrorist bodies was presented in the National Assembly by Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Friday.
From amongst the 43 banned groups, two were banned before the 9/11 attacks for propagating sectarian violence namely Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and Sipha-e-Muhammad – both declared illegal in 2001.
Three organisations found on the list were proscribed by the UN. One of the three groups included Jamaatud Dawa (JuD), which was accused by Indian authorities of complicity in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
Though JuD remained proscribed by the UN, it was not banned by the government until 2002 when its name had been changed to Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Several banned outfits had resurfaced under fresh names. The list revealed that these included Sipah-e-Sahaba (SSP) which changed its name to Millat-e-Islamia Pakistan and Ahle Sunnat wal Jamaat (ASWJ).
The UN had passed a resolution in 2005 emphasising that Pakistan should ban three organisations namely the Hafiz Saeed-led JuD, Al-Akhtar Trust, and Al-Rashid Trust. However, these organisations have not been banned yet.
Four organisations, three from G-B and one from Karachi were banned in 2011. Five Balochistan-based organisations were banned in the year 2010.
Almost two years after the 9/11, al Qaeda was put on the list for banned organisations.
Four organisations were banned in 2008 including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). In 2006, two organisations were banned, one of them being the Balochistan Liberation Army. Khairunnisa International Trust was banned in 2004.
Seven organisations were banned in 2003 including Hizbut Tahrir. Six organisations were banned in 2002, including the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Sipha-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP). Millat-e-Islamia Pakistan, the cover name for SSP, was banned in 2003. Ahle Sunnat wal Jamaat, another cover name for SSP, was banned by the interior ministry in February this year.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 9th, 2012.