Banned ASWJ ends protest as Islamabad police forms team to probe murders
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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.
Read more: Banned outfit operates with impunity in Chakwal
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.
Read more: ASWJ leader 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.
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (51) Closed
Mar 06, 2015 03:42pm
Hope truth will prevail.
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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
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Mar 06, 2015 03:53pm
how could a banned party protest?
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Mar 06, 2015 03:58pm
Only place in the world where banned organizations can protest...what a free country we are...
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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?
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Mar 06, 2015 04:08pm
A banned organization in street protest???
I am confused!!!
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Mar 06, 2015 04:12pm
shameless government; negotiating with so called 'banned outfit'
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Mar 06, 2015 04:12pm
Iran is behind killings of sunnis in pakistan,iran,iraq,syria(220,000 killed)and yeman.
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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.
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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.
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Mar 06, 2015 04:31pm
Banned ???? You Wish......
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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.
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Mar 06, 2015 04:38pm
Banned! What a joke!!
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Mar 06, 2015 04:46pm
One who lives by the sword, dies by the sword.
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Mar 06, 2015 04:48pm
If they are banned then why were they not arrested as they marched?
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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.
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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
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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 .
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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.
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Mar 06, 2015 05:14pm
@Jatt
he is a prime example of being a supporter of terrorism!!!
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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
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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.
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Mar 06, 2015 06:38pm
ASWJ should give Pakistanis assurances about their life, not the other way around!
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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.
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Mar 06, 2015 06:51pm
@Jatt you sound like Natanyahu...
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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.
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Mar 06, 2015 07:29pm
can some one explained the word banned..in Pakistan
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Mar 06, 2015 07:30pm
It can happen only in Pakistan that a banned oraganisation conducts such a rally open and wide.
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Mar 06, 2015 07:34pm
Govt has lost its writ, as banned organisation in one or another name are operating freely throughout the country.
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Mar 06, 2015 07:41pm
I wonder forming of such parties is business in pakistan ?
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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 ?
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Mar 06, 2015 08:32pm
@Nasir And who is behind killing countless shias in the same places you mentioned?
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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
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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
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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?
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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.
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Mar 06, 2015 11:20pm
LOL! Is this a joke?! Our govt and police now "negotiates" with BANNED oufits?? Pakistan, you are hopeless.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Mar 07, 2015 02:47am
terrorists protesting? Pakistanis must be doing something right.lol
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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
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Mar 07, 2015 02:49am
@Jatt alqeada isis taliban are all wahabi, follow Saudi a arabia. .... last I check saudi. Kings were not shia
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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
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Mar 07, 2015 04:09am
@Danish excellent point bro
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Mar 07, 2015 04:14am
'Ahle sunnat wal jamaat'. Translated in English, 'People of the prophet's habbits and party"?
Hmmmmmmm..
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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.
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Mar 07, 2015 04:26am
The comments are laughable.
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