Security: ASWJ demands increased protection for its leaders

KARACHI:

Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) has demanded that increased security should be provided to their leaders following the frequent attacks on the organisation’s leaders.

The demand was made by the ASWJ after its central leader, Maulana Aurangzaib Farooqui, was attacked on Sunday near Abbas Town on Abul Hassan Isphani Road within the limits of Sacchal police station. Maulana Farooqui remained unhurt while the assailants managed to escape after the Maulana’s security guards retaliated with gunfire.

DSP Khalid Khan told The Express Tribune that the police was waiting for the complainant to register a case with the police, adding that the culprits behind the incident have yet to be traced.

This was the fifth attack on Maulana Farooqui. Earlier a major attack occurred on December 25, 2012 in which four of his police security personnel and two private guards were killed and about five others, including Maulana Farooqui, were wounded when unidentified assailants targeted their convoy on Rashid Minhas Road.

Meanwhile, the ASWJ, condemning the incident, have demanded the government to arrest the culprits. ASWJ spokesperson, Maulana Saeed Akbar Farooqui, while talking to The Express Tribune said that after each attack on Maulana Farooqui, the government decreased the number of his security guards instead of increasing the number. “All officials of the police department have been informed about the security threats to Maulana Farooqui and other ASWJ leaders,” said the spokesperson. “Despite this, no one from the government or the law enforcement agencies is ready to provide our leaders with proper security which means the Sindh government wants to kill our leaders.” He said that a strategy was being planned for the future which would later be shared with the media.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 6^th, 2013.