Govt prepares for sectarian purge in southern Punjab
Rahim Yar Khan, Jhang, Chiniot, Bahawalpur, DG Khan considered breeding grounds for sectarian groups
PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD:
The federal government is planning a massive swoop to cleanse the impoverished southern Punjab of terrorist groups, particularly those fuelling sectarianism, as part of the National Action Plan (NAP) against terrorism.
Although intelligence-based targeted raids have been ongoing in the region for some time, the country’s civil and military authorities have given the nod for a decisive push against sectarian organisations in the area.
A senior government official familiar with the development told The Express Tribune that the decision to intensify and expand the operation in south Punjab was taken last month during a high-level huddle of the civil and military leadership. The official, who did
not want to be named in the report, refused to disclose operational details of the offensive, saying it might compromise the government’s plan.
The decision to go after sectarian outfits in South Punjab was taken after intelligence reports warned that the region could become a potential breeding ground for groups such as the ultra-extremist Islamic State, also known by its Arabic acronym Da’ish. Rahim Yar Khan, Jhang, Chinot, Dera Ghazi Khan and Bahawalpur are considered hotbed of several sectarian outfits, which are ideologically more aligned with Da’ish.
Read: Leading the way for a terror-free Punjab
The official said the security agencies had recently picked up over a dozen suspects from south Punjab, who were exploring the possibility of recruiting for Da’ish. Pakistan has denied the organised presence of IS on its soil but acknowledged that it is not oblivious to the potential threat posed by the ultra-extremist group that has set up a self-styled Islamic caliphate on large swathes of land in Syria and Iraq.
During a recent visit to the United Kingdom, army chief General Raheel Sharif also cautioned against the emergence of new terrorist groups in a pointed reference to attempts by Da’ish to make inroads into this part of the world. The army chief, however, said Pakistan was well aware of the threat and would never allow even a shadow of Da’ish to fall on its soil.
The official said the security agencies have identified south Punjab as a potential region where Da’ish could find some support in Pakistan. “That is why the government has decided to go all-out against sectarian outfits in the area,” the official added.
He informed The Express Tribune that thousands of Islamic seminaries (madrassas) have been closely monitored for the past few months as part of the operation against sectarian outfits. It is believed that out of the total 20,000 madrassas, around 7,000 are located in South Punjab. And most of them are believed to be receiving funds from the Arab countries.
The government has already outlined a new policy for seminaries in an attempt to ensure these religious schools do not get involved in any subversive activities. Some madrassas have been shut down in recent months in the region over allegations of involvement in promoting sectarian and hate ideology.
Read: Anti-terror efforts: Punjab monitoring all banned outfits
The move to go after sectarian groups is seen as a major shift in Pakistan’s policy as in the past Islamabad used to avoid taking such outfits head on. The killing of Malik Ishaq, the co-founder of the banned sectarian extremist group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, in a police encounter in July was believed to be part of the government’s changed strategy towards sectarian outfits.
The military courts have also for the first time convicted terrorists who were involved in targeted killings of Shia community members. “You will see more such actions in coming weeks,” the official said.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 5th, 2015.
The federal government is planning a massive swoop to cleanse the impoverished southern Punjab of terrorist groups, particularly those fuelling sectarianism, as part of the National Action Plan (NAP) against terrorism.
Although intelligence-based targeted raids have been ongoing in the region for some time, the country’s civil and military authorities have given the nod for a decisive push against sectarian organisations in the area.
A senior government official familiar with the development told The Express Tribune that the decision to intensify and expand the operation in south Punjab was taken last month during a high-level huddle of the civil and military leadership. The official, who did
not want to be named in the report, refused to disclose operational details of the offensive, saying it might compromise the government’s plan.
The decision to go after sectarian outfits in South Punjab was taken after intelligence reports warned that the region could become a potential breeding ground for groups such as the ultra-extremist Islamic State, also known by its Arabic acronym Da’ish. Rahim Yar Khan, Jhang, Chinot, Dera Ghazi Khan and Bahawalpur are considered hotbed of several sectarian outfits, which are ideologically more aligned with Da’ish.
Read: Leading the way for a terror-free Punjab
The official said the security agencies had recently picked up over a dozen suspects from south Punjab, who were exploring the possibility of recruiting for Da’ish. Pakistan has denied the organised presence of IS on its soil but acknowledged that it is not oblivious to the potential threat posed by the ultra-extremist group that has set up a self-styled Islamic caliphate on large swathes of land in Syria and Iraq.
During a recent visit to the United Kingdom, army chief General Raheel Sharif also cautioned against the emergence of new terrorist groups in a pointed reference to attempts by Da’ish to make inroads into this part of the world. The army chief, however, said Pakistan was well aware of the threat and would never allow even a shadow of Da’ish to fall on its soil.
The official said the security agencies have identified south Punjab as a potential region where Da’ish could find some support in Pakistan. “That is why the government has decided to go all-out against sectarian outfits in the area,” the official added.
He informed The Express Tribune that thousands of Islamic seminaries (madrassas) have been closely monitored for the past few months as part of the operation against sectarian outfits. It is believed that out of the total 20,000 madrassas, around 7,000 are located in South Punjab. And most of them are believed to be receiving funds from the Arab countries.
The government has already outlined a new policy for seminaries in an attempt to ensure these religious schools do not get involved in any subversive activities. Some madrassas have been shut down in recent months in the region over allegations of involvement in promoting sectarian and hate ideology.
Read: Anti-terror efforts: Punjab monitoring all banned outfits
The move to go after sectarian groups is seen as a major shift in Pakistan’s policy as in the past Islamabad used to avoid taking such outfits head on. The killing of Malik Ishaq, the co-founder of the banned sectarian extremist group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, in a police encounter in July was believed to be part of the government’s changed strategy towards sectarian outfits.
The military courts have also for the first time convicted terrorists who were involved in targeted killings of Shia community members. “You will see more such actions in coming weeks,” the official said.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 5th, 2015.