ISLAMABAD: Sectarian groups in Pakistan have grown ‘stronger than ever’ and pose a grave threat to state and society, according to an assessment carried out by the country’s intelligence services.
A report of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) has** warned that organisations such as Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP), Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) and Jundallah are more powerful than in the ‘80s and ‘90s when they wreaked havoc across the country through sectarian attacks.
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“E**ven today they pose a challenge as big as al Qaeda and they are getting more powerful. Imagine where they will be in a couple of years,” said an official who was a member of the IB team that prepared the report.
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The report contains information on SSP, LeJ and associated groups and individuals outside Pakistan after monitoring their activities for several months.
Some of the contents of the report were shared with The Express Tribune, which stated that the SSP and LeJ had already extended their network outside their traditional strongholds in South Punjab, southern districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the Pakhtun belt of Balochistan, including Quetta.
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“Now they are everywhere…from interior Sindh to the base of the Himalayas,” added the official. The SSP and LeJ were among several outfits that were banned by former military ruler Pervez Musharraf back in 2002, but their infrastructure and manpower remained untouched.
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“We went into hiding for some years but our system was very much there,” said an activist of SSP, who would give only his last name.
“That is why we are back now…with more force. Allah help us revive,” remarked Maulana Mohavia, who runs a seminary in Tokhar Niaz Baig just outside Lahore.
Amir Rana, director of independent think tank the Pakistan Institute of Peace Studies (PIPS) which monitors the rise and fall of such organisations, said such militant outfits had been attracting more manpower after they were joined by international players like al Qaeda in the aftermath of 9/11. Intelligence Bureau report:
So what our secuirty agencies and govt doing about this? watching silently, while these savages carry on with their atrocities??
Re: SSP & LeJ are stonger than in the 80's N 90's: Intelligence Bureau report
poor economy is forcing these young guys to turn to extremism, desperation and poverty will force many to turn to extremism, it just takes one month barely to brianwash a 13 year old, and then we have these unmonitored madersas runned by extremists, where parents send their kids because they will get free food and education there and they come out with all sorts of wrong perceptions, this is how the extremist are operating, by instilling hatred and fear into people's minds, go out their kill people and we will provide for your family. This cancer needs to pour out from every facet of our society, there should be no holds barred policy towards these savages.
Re: SSP & LeJ are stonger than in the 80's N 90's: Intelligence Bureau report
We don't even own the WoT, which is part of Pakistan even if you don't agree with all what the US is doing about it. Pakistan really can't go forward with this kind of bs and I think it would be later than sooner and perhaps in a violent manner that we will actually find out what works and what doesn't.
Re: SSP & LeJ are stonger than in the 80's N 90's: Intelligence Bureau report
It is not poverty which is making people turn to extremism, it is our military which puts foeards these groups and gives them more power than they are worth. If the Military and ISI dealt with these extremists in the right but fair way then this problem would not be growing. Whatever we sent to Afghanistan is coming back.
Re: SSP & LeJ are stonger than in the 80's N 90's: Intelligence Bureau report
We don't even own the WoT, which is part of Pakistan even if you don't agree with all what the US is doing about it. Pakistan really can't go forward with this kind of bs and I think it would be later than sooner and perhaps in a violent manner that we will actually find out what works and what doesn't.
As far as I see this issue first of all war on terror and sectarianism are different things, sectarianism is in the country for decades and will remain after the current war ends. The war on terror has helped them (as these groups are now coordinating with each other and more opportunities for training) as these extremists have become quite battle hardened, more brainwashed and hence more dangerous for us in the long run. During the past few years while the taleban have been attacked (WOT) these guys have been spared.
Re: SSP & LeJ are stonger than in the 80's N 90's: Intelligence Bureau report
I agree with Ali Syed, no doubt WOT has given a rise to these extremists, sectarianism has been happening before 9/11
but places like gilgit baltistan and Sindh were free of these savages and now they have strongholds in pretty much every province!
govt and judiciary is responsible, because they are not serious in getting rid of this cancer, since last year we have witnessed so many target killings across Pakistan, Quetta to Sindh, they are targetting people on the basis of their sect and what a shame that no action has been taken to date, what message are they giving to these people, that you are free to do whtever you want?
Re: SSP & LeJ are stonger than in the 80's N 90's: Intelligence Bureau report
Judiciary is also responsible no doubt but the terrorism laws needed to be amended which were not hence these guys are taken to courts from where they get acquitted due to lack of evidence.
Re: SSP & LeJ are stonger than in the 80's N 90's: Intelligence Bureau report
and in cases when there is enough evidence, court grants them bail and set them free. we blame police, but the truth is they are under pressure because political parties and judiciary are not serious in getting rid of them, Police officers and rangers have said this many times, that they bring these guys to jail and courts sets them free and the same excuse is always given "lack of evidence"
witnesses are also not provided proper security, they are afraid of coming forward and witness against these monsters!
Re: SSP & LeJ are stonger than in the 80's N 90's: Intelligence Bureau report
It is not poverty which is making people turn to extremism, it is our military which puts foeards these groups and gives them more power than they are worth. If the Military and ISI dealt with these extremists in the right but fair way then this problem would not be growing. Whatever we sent to Afghanistan is coming back.
You are right, done of us envisioned afghanistan to not just to be used as Stretigic depth but also thought that their people might be able to pakistan's wars in Kashmir against India. All of that is coming back and biting us in the back big time.
Re: SSP & LeJ are stonger than in the 80's N 90's: Intelligence Bureau report
always favorite pets from agencies to politicians used them for time being gaining, they have great atomosphire to grown up quicky in our society. now new owner is IK.
Re: SSP & LeJ are stonger than in the 80's N 90's: Intelligence Bureau report
Let us see who started using evils .
Ethnicity
Ayoub Khan
in Karachi after losing 65 election in Karachi
Than Zia used it in promoting MQM and rivals
sectarianism
Zia
Terrorism
Zia
Missing Persons
Mush