The Hindu : Offices of militant outfits sealed in Pak.

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Nov 17, 2003

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Offices of militant outfits sealed in Pak.

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD Nov. 16. In another swoop on offices of the banned militant organisations which had re-launched themselves under new identities, Pakistan authorities have sealed a number of offices of these outfits, including that of the erstwhile Jaish-e-Mohammad.

Reports suggest that police raided the house of the former Jaish chief, Masood Azhar, in the Punjab province but that he was not there at that time. It was not clear if the authorities intended to detain Azhar. He shot to fame after the Indian Government freed him from jail in December 1999 in exchange for the freedom of passengers of a hijacked Indian Airlines plane.

In early 2000, he launched the Jaish and made it into one of the most powerful outfits focussed on Kashmir.

There have been several commentaries in the Pakistani press suggesting that the Azhar had received ample help from government agencies in establishing his hold in the `jehadi industry'.

The latest crackdown coincided with the Government's decision to proscribe three militant groups, originally banned in January 2002 but re-established under new names, on Saturday night.

In a related development, police in connection with the murder case of Aazam Tariq arrested Allama Sajid Naqvi, who heads a sectarian militant outfit. Tariq was the chief of another banned sectarian outfit.

Political and diplomatic observers are intrigued over the ban on these re-launched outfits. They say a simple crackdown would have been enough.

And therein lies the test for the Pervez Musharraf-Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali Government — its determination and political will to go the whole hog against the culture of militancy and jehad. After all Gen. Musharraf has gone through these motions once before in his much talked speech in early January 2002.

At the meeting where the decision to ban the proscribed outfits was taken, Gen. Musharraf was quoted as saying that Pakistan would adopt a `pro-active' policy against terrorism. Strict action would be taken against anyone carrying illegal arms and displaying arms of any kind in public; and no militant or sectarian organisation would be allowed to function in the country. Prior permission would have to be got before mass gatherings of religious parties are held.

At the core of Gen. Musharraf's strategy to tackle terrorism was reforms aimed at the education system in the religious seminaries. His regime proposed a draft bill envisaging several measures including regulation of flow of foreign students and funds. The bill was shelved in the face of stiff resistance from religious parties and groups.

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