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TTP warns ANP workers to quit party
KARACHI – Amid Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) threats, Karachi Pashtun supporters of the Awami National Party (ANP) remain committed to supporting their party, fighting militants and pursuing a more democratic society.
“The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (is) destabilising the democracy and targeting the pro-democracy parties in the country,” ANP Sindh Provincial Secretary Bashir Jan told Central Asia Online July 25.
The Taliban have killed more than 500 ANP leaders and workers in recent years because the party has been part of the democratic government. By threatening party members, the TTP hopes to weaken the democratic process, officials said.
“In Karachi, the TTP has conveyed a threat to our supporters (telling) them to quit the party; otherwise, they (the militants) would teach the workers a bitter lesson for supporting the ANP,” he said.
This latest militant ultimatum largely targets Karachi Pashtuns, ANP leaders and the TTP confirmed to Central Asia Online July 18.
Threats risk destabilising country
The threats have provoked outrage from many segments of society.
“The government would not (be deterred) from the threats of terrorists and will continue its policy of discouraging militancy in the country,” Shazia Marri, a Pakistan People’s Party parliamentarian and ex-information minister of Sindh, told Central Asia Online.
The Taliban often threaten government officials, security personnel, political leaders and workers, but their threats will not weaken the government’s resolve to eliminate terrorism, Marri said. It is unethical and immoral for the Taliban to destabilise the democratic and political system in the country, she added.
“We condemn the use of force or terrorism in the name of religion and ideology,” Mufti Munib-ur-Rehman, chairman of the Pakistani Ruet-e-Hilal moon-sighting committee, told Central Asia Online.
The government should provide the resources and strategies needed to foil terrorist plans and promote peace in the country, said Munib, who is also a central leader of Wafaq-ul-Madaras, a joint ulema body that takes up important issues and supports the government in tackling religion-related issues.
“Terrorists have created anarchy in the country, tried to divide the people in the name of religion and undermine the system,” Allama Abbas Komeli, chief of the Jafria Alliance in Karachi, told Central Asia Online.
The Jafria Alliance is the political face of Shia Muslims in Pakistan. In recent months militants have killed a number of Shia leaders, doctors, lawyers and members of the alliance.
The terrorists will not succeed in hijacking democratic parties and institutions, Komeli said.
The threat
“We have conveyed a very strong message to pro-ANP Pashtuns living in Karachi, especially in Sohrab Goth and Banarus, known as strongholds of the ANP in the city, to quit their party,” a TTP Karachi spokesman who calls himself Abu Akasha told Central Asia Online by phone from an unknown location.
If pro-ANP Pashtuns continue supporting their party in Karachi, the TTP will attack them, much as the TTP attacks ANP members in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), he said.
But Jan said his party remains committed to fighting Taliban “barbarism” in Karachi.
“We are facing the Taliban in KP, and our party and supporters are ready to face militants in this city,” Jan told Central Asia Online.
Police response
ANP leaders are among those calling for a government crackdown on militants, Jan said.
Already, the Crimes Investigation Department (CID) of Karachi Police is acting on the threats, Chaudhry Aslam, chief of the CID Anti-Extremist Cell, said. The cell has enhanced its vigilance wherever the Taliban have conveyed their threatening message, he said.
Police have intensified raids in Sohrab Goth, Banaras and other areas in Karachi to root out the militants, Aslam said, adding that police are capable of foiling the Taliban's plan to target ANP supporters.
But even as the Taliban threaten democracy in Pakistan, their threat could lose them Pashtun support if they carry out their threats against the ANP, Aslam said. The militants mostly hide out in Pashtun-dominated areas of Karachi because the Pashtuns have typically supported the Taliban. But if the Taliban attack Karachi Pashtuns merely because of their affiliation with the ANP, it would be difficult for militants to maintain their safe havens, Aslam said.
Taliban have attacked ANP members elsewhere
The Taliban have killed several leaders and supporters of the ANP in KP and the party is determined to defeat them, Aslam added.
The Taliban killed the son of KP Information Minister and ANP leader Mian Iftikhar Hussain in July 2010. Bashir Ahmad Bilour, KP senior minister and ANP leader, has survived several assassination attempts in the past few years.
In October 2008, a suicide bomber blew himself outside the hujra (guest house) of ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan in his hometown of Charsadda, killing four people. Asfandyar escaped injury.
Karachi Police have rounded up about 25 TTP operatives since January, Aslam said, adding they are striving to track down more terrorists to avert any terrorist attacks in the city.
KARACHI – Amid Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) threats, Karachi Pashtun supporters of the Awami National Party (ANP) remain committed to supporting their party, fighting militants and pursuing a more democratic society.
“The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (is) destabilising the democracy and targeting the pro-democracy parties in the country,” ANP Sindh Provincial Secretary Bashir Jan told Central Asia Online July 25.
The Taliban have killed more than 500 ANP leaders and workers in recent years because the party has been part of the democratic government. By threatening party members, the TTP hopes to weaken the democratic process, officials said.
“In Karachi, the TTP has conveyed a threat to our supporters (telling) them to quit the party; otherwise, they (the militants) would teach the workers a bitter lesson for supporting the ANP,” he said.
This latest militant ultimatum largely targets Karachi Pashtuns, ANP leaders and the TTP confirmed to Central Asia Online July 18.
Threats risk destabilising country
The threats have provoked outrage from many segments of society.
“The government would not (be deterred) from the threats of terrorists and will continue its policy of discouraging militancy in the country,” Shazia Marri, a Pakistan People’s Party parliamentarian and ex-information minister of Sindh, told Central Asia Online.
The Taliban often threaten government officials, security personnel, political leaders and workers, but their threats will not weaken the government’s resolve to eliminate terrorism, Marri said. It is unethical and immoral for the Taliban to destabilise the democratic and political system in the country, she added.
“We condemn the use of force or terrorism in the name of religion and ideology,” Mufti Munib-ur-Rehman, chairman of the Pakistani Ruet-e-Hilal moon-sighting committee, told Central Asia Online.
The government should provide the resources and strategies needed to foil terrorist plans and promote peace in the country, said Munib, who is also a central leader of Wafaq-ul-Madaras, a joint ulema body that takes up important issues and supports the government in tackling religion-related issues.
“Terrorists have created anarchy in the country, tried to divide the people in the name of religion and undermine the system,” Allama Abbas Komeli, chief of the Jafria Alliance in Karachi, told Central Asia Online.
The Jafria Alliance is the political face of Shia Muslims in Pakistan. In recent months militants have killed a number of Shia leaders, doctors, lawyers and members of the alliance.
The terrorists will not succeed in hijacking democratic parties and institutions, Komeli said.
The threat
“We have conveyed a very strong message to pro-ANP Pashtuns living in Karachi, especially in Sohrab Goth and Banarus, known as strongholds of the ANP in the city, to quit their party,” a TTP Karachi spokesman who calls himself Abu Akasha told Central Asia Online by phone from an unknown location.
If pro-ANP Pashtuns continue supporting their party in Karachi, the TTP will attack them, much as the TTP attacks ANP members in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), he said.
But Jan said his party remains committed to fighting Taliban “barbarism” in Karachi.
“We are facing the Taliban in KP, and our party and supporters are ready to face militants in this city,” Jan told Central Asia Online.
Police response
ANP leaders are among those calling for a government crackdown on militants, Jan said.
Already, the Crimes Investigation Department (CID) of Karachi Police is acting on the threats, Chaudhry Aslam, chief of the CID Anti-Extremist Cell, said. The cell has enhanced its vigilance wherever the Taliban have conveyed their threatening message, he said.
Police have intensified raids in Sohrab Goth, Banaras and other areas in Karachi to root out the militants, Aslam said, adding that police are capable of foiling the Taliban's plan to target ANP supporters.
But even as the Taliban threaten democracy in Pakistan, their threat could lose them Pashtun support if they carry out their threats against the ANP, Aslam said. The militants mostly hide out in Pashtun-dominated areas of Karachi because the Pashtuns have typically supported the Taliban. But if the Taliban attack Karachi Pashtuns merely because of their affiliation with the ANP, it would be difficult for militants to maintain their safe havens, Aslam said.
Taliban have attacked ANP members elsewhere
The Taliban have killed several leaders and supporters of the ANP in KP and the party is determined to defeat them, Aslam added.
The Taliban killed the son of KP Information Minister and ANP leader Mian Iftikhar Hussain in July 2010. Bashir Ahmad Bilour, KP senior minister and ANP leader, has survived several assassination attempts in the past few years.
In October 2008, a suicide bomber blew himself outside the hujra (guest house) of ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan in his hometown of Charsadda, killing four people. Asfandyar escaped injury.
Karachi Police have rounded up about 25 TTP operatives since January, Aslam said, adding they are striving to track down more terrorists to avert any terrorist attacks in the city.
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