Banned terror outfits recruiting fresh ‘jihadis’ under govt’s nose in Pak

KARACHI - Pakistan’s blatant lie regarding taking stiff action against so called religious organisations has been laid bare as groups like the Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM), Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ), Harkatul Mujahideen, Sipah-e-Sahaba and the dreaded 313 Brigade, which is led by Ilyas Kashmiri, continue to operate and recruit fresh cadets in Karachi and other parts of the country.

According to a Daily Times report, several such organisations , which were banned by the previous General Pervez Musharraf government for promoting extremism, have now started to unite.

These banned groups are campaigning openly and recruiting young men to carry out ‘jihad’, the report said.

It is not that the present government is unaware about the development. The Interior Ministry, through a communiqui, had warned provincial governments about the sale of video CD’s, and pro-extremism literature and other provocative materials at madrassas (religious seminaries) and mosques after Friday prayers.

The sale of such articles is rampant in most cities in Sindh, Punjab and the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), but authorities seem to have turned a blind eye towards the nefarious business.

The Interior ministry had also directed the authorities to crack down on printing presses publishing terror literature, seminaries, mosques, as well as bar jihadi websites from public viewing, but little action has been taken.

Despite the government’s claims that it is taking necessary action against the war mongers, leaders of these banned ‘religious’ outfits are far from being deterred.

They said they are at war against foreign forces, and would continue to fight till the very end.

“We are at war and the material, especially the CDs showing the achievements of the mujahideen, attract Muslims toward jihad and they are encouraged by listening to the lecture before an explosion,” the newspaper quoted a top jihadi leader, as saying.

“We have completed all our missions against the infidels and their allied forces either in Pakistan or Afghanistan. We have shown the required spirit of jihad and a true Muslim would be easily convinced for jihad against the enemies of the Muslims,” he added.

He said the mujahideens and all the organisations banned in Pakistan were cooperating with the Taliban because of their similar agendas, and added that ‘jihad’ was being carried out nly in Afghanistan and not in Pakistan. (ANI)