Banned ASWJ ends protest as Islamabad police forms team to probe murders

E-Paper | April 27, 2026

ISLAMABAD: The banned Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) marched from Lal Masjid to the Parliament House on Friday in protest of "target killings and kidnappings" of its representatives.

The proscribed outfit marched today to protest against what it called a recent surge in acts of violence against its representatives. The march was led by ASWJ Islamabad President Ghulam Mustafa Baloch in light of which police cordoned off the street near the headquarters of the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) with containers.

Following a dialogue with the Islamabad police, the outfit agreed to end its protest after an assurance was given that the murders of its workers would be probed. The additional deputy commission Islamabad, the SSP and other police officials said that a special investigation team to be led by SP Captain (retd) Ilyas was being formed to investigate the killings.

ASWJ, a reincarnation of the banned Sunni militant group Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP), had been banned in Feb 2012.

Despite the ban, the ASWJ continues to operate in the country with religious conferences and demonstrations held in different cities from time to time and no apparent action from the authorities.

Last month, lawyer and activist Jibran Nasir led a protest against ASWJ's activities, bringing attention to the government’s negligence towards following due process of law.

ASWJ representatives have been targeted in three incidents of sectarian violence this year. Two days ago, senior ASWJ leader Dr Mohammad Fayyaz Khan was gunned down in Karachi.

According to data compiled by the South Asian Terrorism Portal, 112 people have been killed and 140 injured in incidents of sectarian violence in Pakistan since the beginning of 2015.

The Sunni Supreme Council had, at the end of February, announced the launch of a protest movement against sectarian killings and terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but the province-wide protest has not picked up impetus outside of KP.

Our readers are at the heart of everything we do.
Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at feedback@dawn.com.

Pakistan

Shakeel Qarar is an Islamabad-based reporter for Dawn News (TV), having been with the organization since 2012. His reporting covers crime, law and order, and security, with a specific focus on the Ministry of Interior and its subordinate agencies. He can be found on X at @Qarar009.

Global Fund team may come to inspect ‘HIV mishandling’

Huge storage charge waivers at Karachi Port Trust terminals announced

Govt approves prices for 35 essential medicines to ease shortages

Awais Ali

Mar 06, 2015 03:42pm

Hope truth will prevail.

Recommend 0

hussain684

Mar 06, 2015 03:44pm

Probe into any murder is ok but why assurances to a banned outfit? Why to compromise on their existence. They are the actual sectarians. Wah government wah

Recommend 0

khan

Mar 06, 2015 03:53pm

how could a banned party protest?

Recommend 0

Safdar

Mar 06, 2015 03:58pm

Only place in the world where banned organizations can protest...what a free country we are...

Recommend 0

Danish

Mar 06, 2015 04:00pm

Why are so many problems in Pakistan related to religion? Isn't religion supposed to solve problems? But when you look at it in Pakistan, its mainly causing problems. Makes you ponder, no?

Recommend 0

Mar 06, 2015 04:08pm

A banned organization in street protest??? I am confused!!!

Recommend 0

atif

Mar 06, 2015 04:12pm

shameless government; negotiating with so called 'banned outfit'

Recommend 0

Nasir

Mar 06, 2015 04:12pm

Iran is behind killings of sunnis in pakistan,iran,iraq,syria(220,000 killed)and yeman.

Recommend 0

Raza

Mar 06, 2015 04:17pm

ASWJ how does it feel to taste your own medicine. Now you are becoming the target of what you started. Your hands have the stains of blood of innocent muslims of other sects.

Recommend 0

Mar 06, 2015 04:20pm

Where are the supporters of Lal Masjid ? You see, they are clearly harbouring banned militant outfits. I sympathise for innocent blood shed, but on the other hand, the worrying thing is that why the government is allowed control of a major mosque to these thugs. Re claim your mosques and get rid of these tyrrants.

Recommend 0

Umar Farooqi

Mar 06, 2015 04:31pm

Banned ???? You Wish......

Recommend 0

Jatt

Mar 06, 2015 04:36pm

@Nasir The whole Planet knows that terrorism started from Iran and has been pushed by Iranian mullas, we need to let Iran know in no uncertain terms that they must stop or we have to punish them.

Recommend 0

Sammy

Mar 06, 2015 04:38pm

Banned! What a joke!!

Recommend 0

just_a_reader

Mar 06, 2015 04:46pm

One who lives by the sword, dies by the sword.

Recommend 0

Ijaz

Mar 06, 2015 04:48pm

If they are banned then why were they not arrested as they marched?

Recommend 0

Amv houston

Mar 06, 2015 05:04pm

@Nasir seriouly or did you cook this number at home or some extremist gave it to you. Please use your head. why are spreading hate.

Recommend 0

ahmed

Mar 06, 2015 05:05pm

@Jatt Mr. Jatt what rubbish....can you please quote from anywhere how Iran started terrorism....anywhere please.....you are just biased and of a sectarian mindset...that is all....free from fact and logic

Recommend 0

Amv houston

Mar 06, 2015 05:12pm

@Jatt the whole planet consists of you and Nasir. When is muslim umah going realize that shia sunni or any other sects we are all muslim .

Recommend 0

S Khan

Mar 06, 2015 05:13pm

@khan its Pakistan where criminals are treated well & respected. Whereas ordinary people suffer from these criminal with little to no protection. Our politicians provide these outfis safety for few $$ on cost of destroying the country.

Recommend 0

S Khan

Mar 06, 2015 05:14pm

@Jatt he is a prime example of being a supporter of terrorism!!!

Recommend 0

Hasnain

Mar 06, 2015 05:20pm

@Nasir hey buddy..there is something kmown as alqaeda and isis that would like credit for most of those deaths...get out of your bubble

Recommend 0

Asif

Mar 06, 2015 05:53pm

If an organisation is banned that doesn't mean that anyway has the freedom to kill the workers and they don't have the right to demand justice. People should leave their sectarian differences behind and say something which makes sense.

Recommend 0

Danish

Mar 06, 2015 05:57pm

@ AMV Houston Why not respect human beings for who they are, rather than what they choose to believe or not believe in?

Recommend 0

Ritz

Mar 06, 2015 06:15pm

This is a dysfunctional government and one should not expect any thing better. Pakistani government has adopted a duel policy towards terrorists as it cannot exercise its writ.

Recommend 0

Masood Haider

Mar 06, 2015 06:34pm

What about justice for the countless innocent lives this organization has taken? Why is a banned organization allowed to operate freely which indicates that the government is not serious about waging a war on terrorism on all fronts.

Recommend 0

hrk

Mar 06, 2015 06:38pm

ASWJ should give Pakistanis assurances about their life, not the other way around!

Recommend 0

reality bites

Mar 06, 2015 06:45pm

Why is ASWJ allowed to operate openly? Why weren't these people arrested or noted by the law enforcement. Pakistan has become a hostage to these religious sectarian fanatics.

Recommend 0

aLi

Mar 06, 2015 06:51pm

@Jatt you sound like Natanyahu...

Recommend 0

Ali

Mar 06, 2015 07:11pm

What a funny country we live in.. Senior officers of police "negotiating" with banned outfit instead of arresting them for marching under a banned title.

Recommend 0

IMRAN ALI

Mar 06, 2015 07:29pm

can some one explained the word banned..in Pakistan

Recommend 0

OmKar Singh

Mar 06, 2015 07:30pm

It can happen only in Pakistan that a banned oraganisation conducts such a rally open and wide.

Recommend 0

Patriot

Mar 06, 2015 07:34pm

Govt has lost its writ, as banned organisation in one or another name are operating freely throughout the country.

Recommend 0

hafiz

Mar 06, 2015 07:41pm

I wonder forming of such parties is business in pakistan ?

Recommend 0

muhammad

Mar 06, 2015 08:19pm

@Jatt And thousands of innocent people in Pakistan, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Somalia, Yemen were not killed/slaughtered by Al-Qaeda, ISIS (Daish), Taliban, TTP, Boko Harm, Al-Shabab, Al-Nusra, LeJ, Jund Allah ? Please also let us know who are committing suicide bombing and sleeting throats of innocent people ?

Recommend 0

Yawar

Mar 06, 2015 08:32pm

@Nasir And who is behind killing countless shias in the same places you mentioned?

Recommend 0

Hasan

Mar 06, 2015 10:22pm

I would also like to protest the targeted killings of certain ASWJ individuals. Don't target individuals, target the whole cursed group. Hasan

Recommend 0

Irfan Baloch

Mar 06, 2015 10:23pm

what a pity a bunch of terrorists harassing the state. imagine what they would do if they were not banned

Recommend 0

Shoaib

Mar 06, 2015 10:26pm

@ahmed Iran is actively participating in conflict in Iraq, Syria, Yemen and is backing few groups in Bahrain, Afghanistan and Pakistan. How it is sectarian to talk against Iran?

Recommend 0

saz

Mar 06, 2015 11:10pm

It seems Pakistani Govt is true associates of sectarian banned outfits. They are allowing them to propagate their nefarious criminal agendas, negotiating with them and giving them room to flourish and expand. This is huge crime. Both the protesters their sponsors and those in PK Govt who supported and helped them to flourish should be behind the bars for ever. They are killers of thousands of innocents.

Recommend 0

SHN

Mar 06, 2015 11:20pm

LOL! Is this a joke?! Our govt and police now "negotiates" with BANNED oufits?? Pakistan, you are hopeless.

Recommend 0

Aaqil

Mar 06, 2015 11:47pm

@Amv houston Advice to use head ? Not possible. Extremists are never known to do so. Their only job is to create hatred.

Recommend 0

Alir

Mar 07, 2015 12:04am

The state is making fun of its ordinary citizens by negotiating with banned outfits, on the capital city of islamabad. It means that there is no place for common men in Pak.

Recommend 0

Yawar

Mar 07, 2015 01:46am

@Jatt you and @Nasir We dont need hate mongers like you in Pakistan. Please leave and join your brethren in Syria or Afghanistan.

Recommend 0

Mar 07, 2015 02:47am

terrorists protesting? Pakistanis must be doing something right.lol

Recommend 0

kumail12

Mar 07, 2015 02:47am

ASWJ or sipah sahaba is a terrorist group. You can check videos on YouTube. They will not fight against USA, Israel or India. They sole purpose is to kill. Hardly anyone looks human

Recommend 0

Mar 07, 2015 02:49am

@Jatt alqeada isis taliban are all wahabi, follow Saudi a arabia. .... last I check saudi. Kings were not shia

Recommend 0

sir

Mar 07, 2015 04:05am

@Jatt sooner we realize it's all the Mullah of all the sect that needs to held accountable for preaching hatred. We need to be Pakistani first then anything else. Pls do not inject venom into the veins of innocent childrens of this country.let them leave and prosper in harmony

Recommend 0

sir

Mar 07, 2015 04:09am

@Danish excellent point bro

Recommend 0

ladies and gentlemen

Mar 07, 2015 04:14am

'Ahle sunnat wal jamaat'. Translated in English, 'People of the prophet's habbits and party"? Hmmmmmmm..

Recommend 0

sir

Mar 07, 2015 04:14am

@Shoaib Yes u r right we are sovereign nation if and it is a big if we can avoid keep ourselves out of the Iran & Saudia's war it would be a big blessing for Pakistan and people.

Recommend 0

KafirMusafir

Mar 07, 2015 04:26am

The comments are laughable.

Recommend 0

Branded Content

Indus Cloud signs strategic partnership agreement with PTCL to deliver cloud excellence

The partnership marks a significant step in Indus Cloud’s and PTCL’s joint efforts to strengthen Pakistan’s cloud and data centre infrastructure and expand access to enterprise-grade digital services in the country.