Conflict and Peace Studies

Home , Akhtar Chanal Zahri, Madrassas in Pakistan

A PIPS Research Journal

VOLUME 7 July-Dec 2015 NUMBER 2

Editor Muhammad Amir Rana

Associate Editors Safdar Sial Muhammad Ismail Khan

Pak Institute for Peace Studies

CONTENTS

05 Editor’s note

Comprehensive review of National Action Plan

09 Executive summary 17 Timeline of NAP actions 29 Fighting terror: institutional structure in the context of NAP Azam Khan and Aamir Saeed 39 Dead wrong Najam U Din 45 Special courts Shahzad Akbar 51 NACTA, nay activated Tariq Parvez 59 Hate speech and restricted speech: striking a balance Marvi Sirmed 69 Terrorism financing Safiya Aftab 75 Stopping the banned groups Mehwish Rani 83 Establishing a Counter Terrorism Force Farhan Zahid 91 Registration of madrassas and NAP Mujtaba Rathore 99 Media as mirror Azaz Syed 105 FATA’s ill-fate Muhammad Ismail Khan 109 Watching online space Nighat Dad

115 Zero tolerance for militancy in Punjab Aoun Sahi 121 Karachi Operation Zia Ur Rehman 127 Balochistan report card Shahzada Zulfiqar 135 Action against sectarian terrorists Safdar Sial 145 Afghan refugees and NAP Rauf Khan Khattak Papers 151 Tahir Saeen Group: higher- degree militants Farhan Zahid 161 Silk route monitor A review of developments on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Safdar Sial and Peer Muhammad 201 Guidelines for contributors 203 Highlights of previous issues

Editor’s note

This is the fifth biannual issue of Conflict and Peace Studies, a flagship publication of Pak Institute for Peace Studies. Until 2012, the journal has regularly been published as a quarterly research journal. Started in the last quarter of 2008, as many as 21 issues of the PIPS research journal have been published so far with their primary focus on conflict, insecurity, militancy and militants’ media, religious extremism, radicalization & de-radicalization, terrorism & counterterrorism, human rights and regional strategic issues.

The journal has been well received by academic and research quarters. Besides adding to existing knowledge, it has been contributing to increase understanding among policymakers, and regional and multilateral institutions about situation-specific needs, early warnings, and effective options or strategies to prevent/de-escalate conflict and risk of violence in Pakistan and the region.

PIPS is thankful to Norwegian Peacebuilding Resource Centre (NOREF) for continuing its support for the publication of Conflict and Peace Studies for the second year in a row. In 2014, too, PIPS had sought collaboration with and financial assistance from NOREF to publish two biannual issues of the journal. This joint PIPS-NOREF publication is meant to achieve the following objectives:

 To produce and publish context-specific research work on subjects of conflict, religious extremism, violent radicalism, militancy and terrorism, etc., in local and regional perspectives and disseminate to analysts, research institutes, institutions of higher education, policymakers, media and civil society organizations and others;

 To enhance the empirical knowledge-base and scholarship on interstate and intrastate conflicts and viable options of achieving peace, security and stability in the South Asian region, with particular focus on Pakistan;

 To increase understanding among policymakers and regional and multilateral institutions about situation-specific needs, early warnings, and effective options or strategies to prevent/de-escalate conflict and risk of violence; and

 To improve the effectiveness of local, regional and international partners by strengthening the evidence base and conceptual foundation for engaging in conflict prevention and de-escalation interventions in Pakistan.

Muhammad Amir Rana

Comprehensive review of National Action Plan

Executive summary

Ever since NAP has been launched, there has been decline in violence in the country. This decline needs to be sustained by simultaneously addressing the much deeper issues, going beyond the militaristic quick fixes. Without addressing those issues, the fear of return to violence lurks behind.

It was in late December 2014 that the Prime Minister, Mr. Nawaz Sharif, responding to the dastardly attack on a school in Peshawar week earlier, rolled out its counter-terror strategy, National Action Plan. What is unique about the NAP is that it galvanized all political parties and military leadership to publicly vow against terrorism, besides bringing out government’s counter-militancy efforts in the public debate.

Since then, if gone by the number, there has been a decline in terrorist attacks in the country: According to statistics provided by Pak Institute for Peace Studies’ digital database on security, from January 1 to August 31 this year, a total of 471 terrorist attacks took place across Pakistan, which represented a 47 percent decrease from such attacks recorded during the corresponding period of 2014. The number of people killed (752) and injured (931) also posted a decrease of 36 percent and 43 percent, respectively, from corresponding months of previous year. Government claims its efforts have brought down terrorism in the country by 70 percent.1

While NAP has apparently taken on some issues hitherto ignored in Pakistan’s counter-terror approach, much of it is continuation and expansion of the old counter-terror strategies. For one, it would be wrong to say that the government “woke up” only after the APS attack; operation Zarb-e-Azb in North Waziristan was launched in June 2014, much before NAP, followed by military operations Khyber 1 & 2 in Khyber Agency the same year. Meanwhile surgical strikes against militants in Karachi have been going on since 2013. By the same token, loopholes in the performance on the NAP, nine months later, appear somewhat similar to the pre-NAP confusion in dealing with militants.

Several observers point out that the country’s National Action Plan is too much military-centric, squeezing the space of the civilians.2 They argue that military

1 Tim Craig, "In Pakistan, a prime minister and a country rebound — at least for now", The Washington Post, September 8, 2015. 2 This point is made by some experts. Also see, a report by International Crisis Group: “Revisiting Counter-terrorism Strategies in Pakistan: Opportunities and Pitfalls”, International Crisis Group, Asia Report N°271, July 2015,

Executive summary holds the key role in apex committees which steer the NAP implementation. Some political parties have also expressed serious concerns that the paramilitary troops Rangers have overstepped their mandate in Karachi.

Others however believe that while military campaign against terrorists remains at the heart of NAP, government has failed to take some effective steps to reduce appeal of religious extremism and violent ideologies that feed terrorism. In the most recent National Apex Committee meeting held in Islamabad, on September 10, Prime Minister expressed dissatisfaction over the implementation of NAP and directed the federation and provinces to improve coordination so as to produce better results.3

Below are key findings from the expert analyses this report contains on the progress on each of the twenty points of NAP.

1. There is no direct relation between the decline in terror attacks and resumption of death penalty. According to the database of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, out of the 195 people executed from December 19 to July 31, only 22 were terrorists; the remaining 173 were common criminals.4

2. The details of the proceeding of the military courts, established after behind-the-scene debate and dissent, meant to try “jet black terrorists”, are shrouded in secrecy, besides marking a dark spot on the country’s nascent democracy.

3. Although the country has been vowing to take action against all sorts of armed groups, including those attacking across the border, the government’s subsequent action and statements suggest lack of clarity on dealing with certain groups.

4. Confusion continues to mar the functioning of NACTA, the country’s central counter-terror body: does it fall under the Prime Minister or Interior Minister? Without any board meeting held so far, the organization’s staff lack strategic guidance and its head remain powerless. It has yet to get

http://www.crisisgroup.org/en/regions/asia/south-asia/pakistan/271-revisiting- counter-terrorism-strategies-in-pakistan-opportunities-and-pitfalls.aspx 3 "NAP success a collective responsibility: Nawaz Sharif", The Nation, September 11, 2015 4 “Militants in minority in Pakistan execution drive, deterrent effect debated,” Reuters, July 26, 2015; also see: hrcp-web.org/hrcpweb/who-has-been-executed.

Comprehensive review of NAP

budget, despite recently made claims by interior minister of releasing it soon.5

5. The country’s existing laws are sufficient in cracking down on hate speech, provided law-enforcement agencies are trained and equipped to do that. Instead of having any national counter-hate strategy, the government has opted to regulate “public order” and check “systemic” dissemination of hate material.

6. There has been zero conviction in terror financing, a subject that stays untouched because of the government’s lack of understanding of the web of militant economy. Even estimates about terror financing are unclear.

7. Without the release of the list of banned outfits in public, it is questionable how the government can stop emergence of banned outfits. While the government insists that it has arrested supporters of banned outfits and recovered their material, much of the action was restricted to first few months. Banned groups, despite arrests of their leaders, still carry out public meetings and protest demonstrations.6

8. While all police departments in the four provinces have their own specialized forces, they lack coordination, and budget is yet to be released for the much-needed federal counter-terrorism force.

9. Action against sectarian militants will create positive atmosphere for religious minorities, but the presence of sectarian mindset, supported by discriminatory laws, still hangs above, creating fears of religious persecution.

10. The government has lately taken action against religious seminaries, such as by geo-tagging them and asking them to register afresh. The moves, however, largely faced resistance from some religious educational boards and clergy; lately, it was decided in meeting of the country’s political and military leaders with representatives of madrassa educational boards to

5 On September 10, 2015, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar said that the government has committed funding for NACTA. See, “Those challenging writ of state to be crushed: Nisar”, Samaa Web Desk, September 10, 2015, http://www.samaa.tv/pakistan/2015/09/those-challenging-writ-of-state-to-be- crushed-nisar/ 6 “ASWJ ends protest in Islamabad as police assures to probe workers killings,” Express Tribune, March 6, 2015.

Executive summary

form a committee for preparing forms to register madrassas and to evolve a mechanism for register madrassa accounts.7

11. Only Punjab has issued a statute banning glorification of terrorists, on media. Yet, several militant outfits continue to publish and post material online.

12. Although the government claims to have restored security in parts of FATA, nothing practical is done to introduce the long-demanded administrative reforms. The counter-militant approach in FATA has been too military-centric, ignoring the fruits of mainstreaming the area.

13. The government claims to have dismantled terrorist networks, several of which operated from North Waziristan. Independent observers argue although terrorist networks have been weakened and their capacity to operate hampered but they are not completely dismantled.

14. The government’s plan of introducing cyber-crime bill to monitor internet for terrorist activities, inflict several restrictions on the regular users, and violators, of the internet. Civil society fears that any such law could be misused in the name of terrorism, not least because there is no comprehensive personal data protection mechanism.

15. That the Prime Minister vowed to end militancy from Punjab, to many, showed the government’s admission of the presence of militants in Punjab. Questions are asked as to whether the government will ever take on all outfits.

16. Publicly, the operation in Karachi has lately been focusing on targeting political players of the town. There are also clear signs that the operation has effectively reduced terrorist attacks and criminal activities in the metropolis. Prime Minister Sharif has frequently deflected political opposition to the operation, saying that it will continue till its logical end.8

17. Although NAP calls for the empowering Balochistan government to pursue reconciliation policy with the disgruntled Baloch, heavy-handed

7 This was announced by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar, a day after madrassa representatives met PM and Army Chief. Nisar claimed that the two sides agreed on taking forward madrassa reforms. See: Mian Abrar, "With army chief on table, PM brings clergy on board", Pakistan Today, September 8, 2015. 8 "Karachi operation will be accomplished at all costs: PM Nawaz", Express Tribune, September 11, 2015.

Comprehensive review of NAP

measures of dealing in Balochistan continue to trickle in the media. To some Baloch nationalists, the approaches are poles apart. The apparent decline in sectarian attacks in Balochistan is owned to provincial and national developments against sectarian groups and their leaders.

18. The government’s approach in dealing with sectarian terrorists has been oriented around counter-terrorism, without addressing the causes promoting sectarian minds. Several key sectarian militants including leaders have been killed and arrested; meanwhile, sectarian groups are also trying to mark political presence.

19. Despite calls for registering and/or evicting Afghan refugees, they hardly had any role in terrorist attacks inside Pakistan.

20. As military courts came to the front, the decision to reform criminal justice system took backseat. The country’s apex court, however, has kept the right with itself of reviewing military court’s decision. Despite some on and off measures to expedite pending cases, the criminal justice system requires meaningful overhaul.

Below are some critical areas that Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS) believes NAP measures should also focus on:

Countering violent ideologies

While military operations and actions taken under NAP have weakened the militants and put them under pressure, comprehensive and concerted counter- radicalization and de-radicalization programs are also needed to challenge and reduce appeal of militant ideologies, and rehabilitate repentant militants. The intensity of the extremism issue requires a multifold reintegration framework with broader focus on both violent and non-violent individuals and groups. Such an approach has not been conceived as the state is mainly relying on conventional frameworks of rehabilitation. A creative multipronged reintegration framework is needed whether the state adopts a surgical approach or a political one to tackle the menace of terrorism.

The ISIS inspiration

Pakistan recently banned the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria group. A ban may not reduce the inspiration of the ISIS among Pakistani militants, particularly when many banned groups continue to operate in Pakistan. With regards to future trends of the IS inspiration and influence in Pakistan, a lot will depend

Executive summary on Pakistani state’s efforts to achieve security and eliminate militant groups and ideologies. In the short term it means how the ongoing security operations, mainly in FATA and Karachi, proceed and conclude, and how the National Action Plan is implemented by the federal and provincial governments. At the same time, Pakistan will need to enhance border-security and counter- militancy cooperation with Afghanistan where ISIS is increasing its influence; many Pakistani Taliban militants who pledged allegiance to or supported ISIS have also relocated to Afghanistan.

Cross-border terrorist networks

Operation Zarb-e-Azb has pushed a big part of the terrorists’ infrastructure to the other side of the border in Afghanistan, mainly in Kunar, Nuristan and Khost provinces. These groups could try to re-establish in FATA in future; they are already engaged in cross-border attacks inside Pakistan. Two things are imperative to respond to the threat: first, political and administrative reforms in FATA, which will not only deny militants a support base but also improve local security structures; and secondly, efforts to evolve some broader joint security mechanism with Afghanistan.

Illegal weapons

Easy availability of heavy weapons in Pakistan is a major challenge for the security forces’ counter-militancy drive. According to one estimate, 20 million illegal weapons are in circulation in Pakistan. Sectarian terrorist groups and nationalist insurgents in Balochistan appear to have recently adopted targeted killings as the foremost instrument of terrorism. Easy access to lethal weapons has made their task easier.

Threat perception

Law enforcement departments need a dedicated platform to scientifically monitor the changing behaviors, trends and emerging patterns of terrorist groups. This initiative will help them to broaden their threat perception and evolve effective responses. So far, it has been difficult for law enforcement agencies to think beyond the established threats. Pakistan is a frontline state in the war against terrorism but Al-Qaeda has never been on its threat-perception radar. The same is true for ISIS, which is now transforming local terrorist groups.

Comprehensive review of NAP

Internally Displaced Persons

The repatriation and rehabilitation of internally displaced persons (IDPs) from North Waziristan and Khyber tribal regions requires urgent attention of the federal and provincial governments as well as the military leadership. The government needs swift action to not only provides full facilities to the IDPs but also to check undesirable practices and exploitation of the displaced persons by charity organizations in IDP camps. There is a need for making government aid agencies more effective in order to revive and enhance the IDPs’ confidence in the state.

FATA mainstreaming

There is an urgent need to speed up the FATA reforms process. In recent months, militants have started efforts to re-establish themselves in parts of FATA, mainly in those agencies where there is less military presence or pressure including Bajaur, South Waziristan and Kurram. Attacks on tribal elders, who are members of government-supported tribal peace committees, have also increased in recent weeks, mainly in Bajaur and Khyber agencies. A review of militants’ growth in FATA in past suggests that they took advantage of existing vacuum in political and administrative structures and further weakened them by attacking the tribal elders, who have a key role in political administration. They could do so again in future, particularly when military pressure will be eased, if FATA’s political and administrative structures are not mainstreamed or reformed.

Prison security and reforms

This is an important area that is being neglected in the counterterrorism framework. After the jail breaks in Dera Ismail Khan and Bannu and an unsuccessful attempt to breach the central jail in Karachi last year, the need for enhancing prison security has become more pronounced. The jails in Pakistan are not only providing safe havens to terrorists to continue their activities but also serve as recruitment centers for terrorist groups. Jail reforms are also critical because terrorist groups have infiltrated police and prison officials.

Building capacity of police

The police need to be equipped with new technologies and resources but utilizing the available and allocated resources for the force is another critical issue. The operational and technical assistance and capacity building of police is an important area that needs focus. The training programs need to be focused

Executive summary on technology-led policing along with attention to management, intelligence gathering, mobility and connectivity. At the same time, the NAP should prioritize the de-politicization of police, which is the key to making it a professional force.

Timeline of NAP actions

When? What? The source? Dec. 30, The five religious Dawn, December 31, 2014, 2014 educational boards agreed to http://www.dawn.com/news/ consider government 1154216/seminaries-agree-to- proposal of adding modern consider-incorporating-modern- education in their syllabus. education. Jan. 1, The federal government has The Nation, January 2, 2015, 2015 set up three special courts in http://nation.com.pk/national three provincial capitals to /02-Jan-2015/three-special- try terror suspects courts-set-up-to-try-terror- suspects. Jan. 1, Government of Punjab Dunya, January 2, 2015, 2015 announced head money for http://e.dunya.com.pk/detail.p two terrorists of Lashker-e- hp?date=2015-01- Jhangvi (LeJ). 02&edition=ISL&id=1474043_21 367253. Jan. 3, Interior Minister claims that Dawn, January 4, 2015, 2015 action against the TTP and http://www.dawn.com/news/ its supporters across 1154988. Pakistan have been launched. Jan. 3, Anti-Terrorism Court issued Dawn, January 4, 2015, 2015 black warrants for seven http://www.dawn.com/news/ terrorists including four 1154910. militants of banned LeJ. Jan. 5, Supreme Court and Lahore Express, January 6, 2015, 2015 High Court, separately, http://www.express.com.pk/e acquitted five death row paper/PoPupwindow.aspx?ne prisoners and ordered their wsID=1102613831&Issue=NP_L immediate release. HE&Date=20150106. Jan. 6, 21st amendment establishing Dunya, January 7, 2015, 2015 military courts for two years, http://e.dunya.com.pk/detail.p passed. hp?date=2015-01- 07&edition=LHR&id=1481005_8 8325544. Jan. 7, Two terrorists convicted of Daily Express, January 8, 2015, 2015 sectarian terrorism were http://www.express.com.pk/e hanged in Multan Central paper/PoPupwindow.aspx?ne Jail. wsID=1102616845&Issue=NP_IS B&Date=20150108.

Timeline of NAP actions

Jan. 8, Punjab government Dawn, January 9, 2015, 2015 promulgated ordinance on http://www.dawn.com/news/ security of various 1155881. institutions like schools, colleges. Jan. 8, Punjab government Dawn, January 9, 2015, 2015 promulgated ordinance for http://www.dawn.com/news/ keeping a “record of tenants 1155881. and temporary residents”. Jan. 9, Pakistan Army announced Dawn, January 10, 2015, 2015 establishment of nine http://www.dawn.com/news/ military courts. 1156104. Jan. 10, Only a “handful” of Dawn, January 11, 2015, 2015 proscribed organizations will http://www.dawn.com/news/ face government action, at 1156321. least in the initial days, said a news report. Jan. 13, Four terrorists given death Dawn, January 14, 2015, 2015 penalty. http://tribune.com.pk/story/8 21558/attack-on-isi-office-atc- hands-down-death-penalty-to- ttp-activists. Jan. 13, PM-chaired meeting Dawn, January 14, 2015, 2015 discussed issues relating to http://www.dawn.com/news/ madrassa financing. 1156907. Jan. 13, Interior ministry completed Dunya, January 14, 2015, 2015 registration and scrutiny of http://e.dunya.com.pk/detail.p seminaries in Islamabad hp?date=2015-01- identifying 160 seminaries as 14&edition=ISL&id=1492942_53 illegal. 480617. Jan. 14, Interior Minister Nisar told a Dawn, January 15, 2015, 2015 top meeting about the http://www.dawn.com/news/ presence of 95 active banned 1157108. groups in Punjab. Jan. 14, Interior Minister met senior Express Tribune, January 15, 2015 Saudi diplomat to deliberate 2015, upon “how to stop financial http://tribune.com.pk/story/8 support of banned outfits 22077/exhortation-riyadh- from Saudi Arabia, among urged-to-help-choke-terror- other issues.” money.

Comprehensive review of NAP

Jan. 15, Senate Committee suggested Dawn, January 16, 2015, 2015 amending Anti-Money http://www.dawn.com/news/ Laundering Act, 2010, to 1157345. ward off any international reaction. Jan. 15, A militant of Sipah-e-Sahaba Dawn, January 16, 2015, 2015 was hanged to death in http://www.dawn.com/news/ Karachi central jail. 1157280. Jan. 17, Convicted LeJ militant Daily Times, January 18, 2015, 2015 Akram Lahori, involved in http://www.dailytimes.com.pk sectarian killings, was /E-Paper/Lahore/2015-01- hanged to death in Kot 18/page-1/detail-6. Lakhpat jail in Lahore. Jan. 18, The government has put Express Tribune, January 19, 2015 54,000 suspected militants 2015, under Fourth Schedule, http://tribune.com.pk/story/8 meant to monitor their 23183/new-terror-watch-list- activities. catalogues-5400-militants. Jan. 19, A special feature on fighting Dawn, January 20, 2015, 2015 cybercrime reported about http://www.dawn.com/news/ the presence of fake accounts 1158086. condoning terrorism. Jan 20, Punjab government Dawn, January 21, 2015, 2015 promulgated ordinance http://www.dawn.com/news/ banning glorification of 1158400. terrorists. Jan. 21, Security forces traced Express Tribune, January 22, 2015 involvement of Ghazi Force 2015, in terrorism. http://tribune.com.pk/story/8 25538/intelligence-update- ghazi-force-is-gaining-ground- says-reports. Jan. 21, Interior Ministry of Pakistan Dawn, January 21, 2015, 2015 reportedly included http://www.dawn.com/news/ Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) and 1158484. Haqqani network in banned outfits’ list. Jan.21, FIA caught 320 million Jang, January 22, 2015, 2015 rupees used for terror https://e.jang.com.pk/01-22- financing. 2015/pindi/pic.asp?picname=5 35.gif.

Timeline of NAP actions

Jan. 22, Foreign Office of Pakistan Dawn, January 23, 2015, 2015 avoided confirming http://www.dawn.com/news/ proscription of JuD and 1158809/confusion-over-status- Haqqani network, saying of-jud-haqqani-network. that Pakistan, obliging UN charter, is required to go against those in the sanction list. Jan. 22, Records seized from a bank Mashriq, January 23, 2015, 2015 in Peshawar suspected of http://www.dailymashriq.com. terror financing. pk/index.php?date=2015-01- 23&edition=&type=. Jan. 22, An intelligence agency asked Express Tribune, January 23, 2015 the Islamabad Capital 2015, Territory (ICT) http://tribune.com.pk/story/8 Administration to take 25949/countering-extremism- action against shops selling city-admin-told-to-remove-hate- hate material. material-from-shops. Jan. 22, JuD announced to continue Jang, January 23, 2015, 2015 with its work and https://e.jang.com.pk/01-23- condemned anti-JuD 2015/pindi/pic.asp?picname=5 statements. 22.gif. Jan. 23, According to a report on Dawn, January 24, 2015, 2015 NAP, the Prime Minister’s http://www.dawn.com/news/ House claimed that Punjab 1159091/punjab-ahead-of-other- was leading on the provinces-in-anti-terror-steps. implementation. Jan. 28, Senate was told that around Express Tribune, January 29, 2015 80 seminaries are receiving 2015, foreign aid worth 300 million http://tribune.com.pk/story/8 rupees. 29407/year-2013-14-80- seminaries-received-rs300m-in- foreign-aid. Jan. 30, Government report claims The News, January 31, 2015, 2015 that Punjab is still ahead in http://www.thenews.com.pk/ implementing NAP: out of Todays-News-13-35612-9,074- the 183,547 people arrested operations-conducted-in- nationwide, 179,309 were Punjab. from Punjab. Jan. 30, Minister of State for Interior Dawn, January 31, 2015, 2015 told Senate that only 23 http://www.dawn.com/news/ seminaries in Sindh, KP and 1160627.

Comprehensive review of NAP

Balochistan are receiving foreign funding. Jan. 31, First batch of Punjab Express Tribune, February 1, 2015 Counter-Terrorism Force, 2015, comprising 421 corporals, http://tribune.com.pk/story/8 including 16 females, passed 30895/threat-containment-govt- out. bringing-new-laws-to-combat- extremism-cm. Feb. 1, Wafaqul Madaris refused to Dunya, February 2, 2015 register seminaries unless 2015,http://e.dunya.com.pk/de issues with religious tail.php?date=2015-02- ministry are sorted out. 02&edition=ISL&id=1526556_22 760021. Feb. 2, Sindh government approves Radio Pakistan, February 2, 2015 formation of Anti-Terrorism 2015, Force. http://www.radio.gov.pk/new sdetail/66806/8. Feb. 3, Two convicts accused of The News, February 4, 2015, 2015 sectarian killings were http://www.thenews.com.pk/ hanged in Karachi Central Todays-News-13-35680-Two- Jail. convicts-from-banned-outfit- hanged-in-Karachi. Feb. 5, Rawalpindi/Islamabad Jang, February 6, 2015, 2015 police given mobile-phones https://e.jang.com.pk/02-06- tracing technology, for the 2015/pindi/pic.asp?picname=5 first time. 37.gif. Feb. 6, According to a brief given to The News, February 7, 2015, 2015 the Prime Minister, 10,616 http://www.thenews.com.pk/ people held in 14,886 search Todays-News-13-35751-10616- operations across the held-in-country-in-14886- country. search-operatios. Feb. 7, Sufi Mohammad, head of Nawa-e-Waqt, February 8, 2015, 2015 defunct TNSM, was indicted http://www.nawaiwaqt.com.p by an ATC in Peshawar in k/E-Paper/Lahore/2015-02- rebellion case. 08/page-1/detail-9. Feb. 10, In what is considered as a Dawn, February 11, 2015, 2015 veiled reference to Saudi http://www.dawn.com/news/ Kingdom, the Foreign Office 1162846/saudi-money-will-be- of Pakistan said that money scrutinised-fo. sent through informal channels will be scrutinized.

Timeline of NAP actions

Feb. 13, The government barred Nai Baat, February 14, 2015, 2015 foreign students from http://naibaat.com.pk/ePaper/ admission in seminaries. lahore/14-02- 2015/details.aspx?id=p1_16.jpg. Feb. 14, Deobandi seminaries board Dawn, February 15, 2015, 2015 opposed government plan of http://www.dawn.com/news/ restricting admission to 1163707. foreign students into seminaries. Feb. 19, Balochistan’s Anti-Terror Nai Baat, February 20, 2015, 2015 Force passed out, comprising http://naibaat.com.pk/ePaper/ 200 personnel including 18 islamabad/20-02- women. 2015/details.aspx?id=p1_28.jpg. Feb. 19, A senior Balochistan Express Tribune, February 20, 2015 government official 2015, conceded that 234 madrassas http://tribune.com.pk/story/8 in the province receive funds 41298/countering-extremism- from Muslim countries. in-balochistan-234-madrassas- receive-foreign-cash-official. Mar. 3, A news report quoted Express Tribune, March 4, 2015, 2015 government officials as http://epaper.tribune.com.pk/ saying that cyber units had DisplayDetails.aspx?ENI_ID=11 failed to “disable or block” 201003040205&EN_ID=11201003 websites of the TTP. 040064&EMID=11201003040036. Mar. 4, IG Punjab told Senate Dunya, March 05, 2015, 2015 Committee that 147 http://e.dunya.com.pk/detail.p seminaries in Punjab are hp?date=2015-03- receiving foreign assistance. 05&edition=ISL&id=1578237_88 283081. Mar. 11, A news report said that The News, March 11, 2015, 2015 NACTA needs “men and http://www.thenews.com.pk/ money” to fight terror. Todays-News-13-36332-Nacta- needs-men-and-money-to-fight- terror. Mar. 11, Madrassas not registered Jang, Islamabad, March 12, 2015. 2015 with any of the five boards were asked to register with the Madrassa Education Board. Mar. 12, A news report said Punjab Express Tribune, March 12, 2015 government has geo-tagged 2015, http://tribune.com.pk/story/8

Comprehensive review of NAP

11,000 religious seminaries 51861/geo-tagging-database- across the province. punjab-maps-location-of-11000- madrassas. Mar. 28, According to a report Daily Times, March 29, 2015, 2015 submitted to the PM, 32,347 http://www.dailytimes.com.pk people held in 28,826 /E-Paper/Lahore/2015-03- operations by security forces. 29/page-1/detail-0. Mar. 30, “Pakistan to raise a 12,000- Express Tribune, March 30, 2015 strong force to guard 2015, Chinese working along http://tribune.com.pk/story/8 CPEC,” claimed a media 61078/economic-corridor- report quoting government 12000-strong-force-to-guard- officials. chinese-workers. Mar. 31, Punjab Home minister Radio Pakistan, March 31, 2015, 2015 shared that so far 14,500 out http://radio.gov.pk/newsdetail of 16,000 seminaries in /67203/7. Punjab have been registered. Apr. 2, A media report said Punjab Nai Baat, Islamabad, April 2, 2015 police couldn’t arrest 150 2015. wanted men identified in red and black books. Apr. 2, Military courts award death The News, April 3, 2015, 2015 to six militants on terror http://www.thenews.com.pk/ charges. Todays-News-13-36762- Military-courts-award-death-to- six-terrorists. Apr. 10, A news report claimed that Dawn, April 10, 2015, 2015 the accounts NACTA claims http://www.dawn.com/news/ to have frozen recently, were 1174993. rather frozen over a period of time. Apr. 14, A media report claimed that Dawn, April 14, 2015, 2015 the ministry of religious http://www.dawn.com/news/ affairs on March 13 had 1175832. forwarded the new madrassa registration form to the collective body of all the five Wafaqul Madaris – the Itehad-i-Tanzeematul Madaris Deenya (Itehad), but majority of seminary

Timeline of NAP actions

boards are undecided about the new registration forms. Apr. 14, Authorities stopped a JUD The News, April 15, 2015, 2015 leader, Maulana Ameer http://www.thenews.com.pk/ Hamza, at Lahore airport, Todays-News-2-312754-JuD- from travelling to Saudi leader-barred-from-leaving- Arabia. His name was on country. Exit Control List. Apr. 16, Electronic Crime Bill, Dunya, April 17, 2015, 2015 imposing 14 year http://e.dunya.com.pk/detail.p punishment and 5 crore fine, hp?date=2015-04- was approved by the 17&edition=ISL&id=1650867_12 National Assembly Standing 164261. Committee on Information Technology Apr. 30, ATC awarded life The News, May 1, 2015, 2015 imprisonment to 10 militants http://www.thenews.com.pk/ for attacking Malala Todays-News-13-37269-10-get- Yousafzai in 2012. life-term-in-Malala-attack-case. May 11, At least 29 former militants The News, May 12, 2015, 2015 completed training at the http://www.thenews.com.pk/ rehabilitation center in Khar. Todays-News-2-317724-Briefs... May 18, A news report quoted a Express Tribune, May 18, 2015, 2015 senior officer saying that 140 http://epaper.tribune.com.pk/ out of the 30,000 people DisplayDetails.aspx?ENI_ID=11 arrested across the country 201005180005&EN_ID=11201005 were collaborating with 180002&EMID=11201005180002. foreign spy agencies. May 23, Punjab Police efforts against Dawn, May 23, 2015, 2015 hate material came under http://www.dawn.com/news/ objections, after the courts 1183713. released arrested publishers and book-sellers, raising questions as to what is hate material. May 26, As many as 13 madrassas Nawa-e-Waqt, Islamabad, May 2015 involved in militancy raided 27, 2015. in Punjab; 43 people arrested. May 27, In a meeting presided over Dawn, May 28, 2015, 2015 by the PM, the government http://www.dawn.com/news/ acceded that NAP requires 1184691.

Comprehensive review of NAP

“more effective implementation.” Jun. 4, Ever since moratorium on Express Tribune, June 4, 2015, 2015 the death penalty has been http://tribune.com.pk/story/8 lifted, 151 people have been 97344/capital-punishment-23- executed, of which 23 were terror-convicts-among-151- convicted of terrorism hanged. Jun. 26, A report submitted by Dunya, June 27, 2015, 2015 intelligence agencies to http://e.dunya.com.pk/detail.p interior ministry revealed hp?date=2015-06- that despite strict measures, 27&edition=ISL&id=1765403_67 more than 60 banned outfits 129434. still collected funds. Jun. 26, A written reply submitted by Express Tribune, June 29, 2015, 2015 Attorney General of Pakistan http://tribune.com.pk/story/9 (AGP) Salman Aslam Butt in 11569/no-outfits-banned-after- the Supreme Court said the aps-massacre-top-court-told. government had banned no new outfit since the APS attack. Jun. 28, Government mapped Nawa-e-Waqt, June 29, 2015, 2015 Pakistanis’ donations to http://www.nawaiwaqt.com.p madrassas at 650 billion k/E-Paper/islamabad/2015-06- rupees in charity 29/page-12. Jul. 12, A media report said Pakistan Today, July 12, 2015. 2015 Balochistan government http://www.pakistantoday.co planned to deploy m.pk/2015/07/12/national/bal surveillance drones against ochistan-govt-to-deploy- criminal elements. surveillance-drones. Jul. 12, Sindh Apex Committee Nawa-e-Waqt, July 13, 2015, 2015 admitted that more than 40 http://www.nawaiwaqt.com.p seminaries are having links k/E-Paper/islamabad/2015-07- with terrorists, among them 13/page-1. 24 are in Karachi. Jul. 13, A report highlighted that Dawn, July 13, 2015, 2015 after six months of http://epaper.dawn.com/Detai announcement to do so lImage.php?StoryImage=13_07_ under NAP, Islamabad 2015_004_001. police has failed to establish the special anti-terror force. Jul. 16, A news report revealed that Dawn, July 16, 2015, 2015 not a single unregistered

Timeline of NAP actions

madrassa, out of 579, has http://www.dawn.com/news/ been sealed in Karachi. 1194706. Jul 16, Punjab Apex Committee, Dawn, July 17, 2015, 2015 meeting for the sixth time, http://www.dawn.com/news/ banned Zakat and Fitrana 1194988. collection by proscribed organizations. Jul. 16, According to a report Express, July 17, 2015, 2015 submitted by the http://www.express.com.pk/e government in the Supreme paper/PoPupwindow.aspx?ne Court of Pakistan, 142 NGOs wsID=1102965033&Issue=NP_IS and seminaries have been B&Date=20150717. issued audit notices. Jul. 22, The Supreme Express Tribune, July 23, 2015, 2015 Court expressed its concerns http://tribune.com.pk/story/9 over the ineffectiveness of 24786/poorly-funded-nacta- the National Counter- gets-rs100m-against-rs2b- Terrorism Authority demand. (NACTA) in eradicating terrorism in the country. Jul. 25, A media report claimed that The News, July 25, 2015, 2015 the KP government had http://www.thenews.com.pk/ planned a de-radicalization Todays-News-7-330513-Govt- program worth 65 million plans-project-to-de-radicalise- rupees. militants-in-KP. Jul. 29, Punjab government told the Dawn, July 30, 2015, 2015 Supreme Court that it had http://www.dawn.com/news/ registered cases against 1197226. several banned outfits for illegally collecting funds. Jul. 29, Malik Ishaq, leader of The News, July 30, 2015, 2015 Lashker-e-Jhangvi, was http://www.thenews.com.pk/a killed along with two sons in rticle-192503-Malik-Ishaq- an alleged police encounter among-two-sons-killed-in- in Muzaffargarh (Punjab). alleged-police-shootout. Aug. 5, Supreme Court upheld the Express Tribune, August 6, 2015 constitutional amendment 2015, made for establishing http://tribune.com.pk/story/9 military courts, keeping the 32537/supreme-court-upholds- review powers with itself establishment-of-military- (SC). courts.

Comprehensive review of NAP

Aug. 6, PM approves the absorption Nai Baat, Islamabad, August 7, 2015 of National Crisis 2015. Management Cell into NACTA Aug. 6, Punjab counter terrorism Dawn, August 7, 2015, 2015 department along with http://www.dawn.com/news/ intelligence officials 1198863/search-operations-in- undertook a joint search punjab-seminaries. operation in seminaries across the province detaining several students. Aug. 9, A total of 30 seminaries had Dawn, August 10, 2015, 2015 been closed so far and put http://www.dawn.com/news/ under “suspect” category, 1199516/30-seminaries-closed- said Interior Minister. says-minister. Aug. 13, Military court awarded The News, August 14, 2015, 2015 death to six militants http://www.thenews.com.pk/ involved in APS attack and Todays-News-13-39093-Seven- to one militant involved in terrorists-awarded-death-by- Safoora Goth, Karachi attack. military-court. Aug. 15, An anti-terrorism court Dawn, August 16, 2015, 2015 (ATC) in Lahore sentenced http://www.dawn.com/news/ an Al-Qaeda man to life 1200797. imprisonment. Aug. 20, A media report indicated The News, August 20, 2015, 2015 that only two of the 25 http://www.thenews.com.pk/ prisoners hanged in Adiala Todays-News-2-335257-Only- Jail Rawalpindi so far were two-of-25-executed-prisoners. tried under the anti- terrorism act. Aug. 23, An intelligence agency Express Tribune, August 24, 2015 tracked down a gang of 52 2015, hundi and hawla dealers, all http://tribune.com.pk/story/9 Afghans, involved in terror 43605/hundi-and-hawala-52- financing. afghans-involved-in-terror- finance-nabbed. Aug. 24, The federal cabinet vowed to The News, August 25, 2015, 2015 deal firmly with sectarian http://www.thenews.com.pk/ outfits. Todays-News-13-39258-Govt-to- get-tough-with-sectarian- outfits-now.

Timeline of NAP actions

Aug. 24, A police report claimed that Jang, August 25, 2015, 2015 the number of madrassas in https://e.jang.com.pk/08-25- Karachi has increased. 2015/pindi/pic.asp?picname=5 4.gif. Aug. 25, A news report claimed The News, August 25, 2015, 2015 detained commanders of http://www.thenews.com.pk/ TTP Swat chapter, Muslim Todays-News-7-336075-TTP- Khan and Mehmood Khan, Swat-commanders-Muslim- had died in custody of KhanMehmood-Khan-die-insecurity forces owing to their custody. illness. Aug. 25, Sindh government ordered Dawn, August 26, 2015, 2015 action against 49 seminaries http://www.dawn.com/news/ having links with terrorists. 1202829. Aug. 25, Punjab law minister claimed Dawn, August 26, 2015, 2015 that 20 seminaries once http://www.dawn.com/news/ accused of having links with 1202904. militants are no long involved in militancy. Aug. 26, A news report revealed that Express Tribune, August 26, 2015 703 unregistered seminaries 2015, in FATA will be black listed http://tribune.com.pk/story/9 soon. 44774/clamping-down-703- unregistered-tribal-seminaries- to-be-blacklisted. Aug. 27, The government of Pakistan Jang, August 28, 2015, 2015 officially banned ISIS in https://e.jang.com.pk/08-28- Pakistan, as per notification 2015/pindi/pic.asp?picname=5 issued by the interior 28.gif. ministry. Aug. 28, Spokesman for Wafaqul Dawn, August 29, 2015, 2015 Madaris Al-Arabia http://www.dawn.com/news/ complained that only 1203597. Deobandi seminaries were targeted in recent raids. Sep. 7, The top civilian and military Dawn, September 8, 2015, 2015 leadership held a meeting http://www.dawn.com/news/ with representatives of 1205572. religious seminaries indicating government’s renewed resolve to reform madrassas.

Comprehensive review of NAP

Fighting terror: institutional structure in the context of NAP

Azam Khan and Aamir Saeed

Azam Khan is an Islamabad-based journalist with The Express Tribune, having interest in governance and security issues. Aamir Saeed is an Islamabad-based journalist, with special interest in climate change.

he National Action Plan, The remaining four (4) committees T announced after the December 16 were led by finance minister Senator attack, enlists 20 points meant to fight Ishaq Dar, on terror financing; terrorism in the country. To information minister Senator Pervaiz undertake these points, the Rashid, on militant glorification in government constituted several media, and on justice system reforms; committees. A central coordinating Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa body NACTA was already tasked to Mehtab Khan, on FATA reforms and collaborate on counter-terror smooth return of Internally information. Above all, apex Displaced Persons. committees comprising civil-military leadership were formed in all four In addition to these, Prime Minister provinces, on the same subject. Nawaz Sharif was to head a special committee overseeing overall This essay describes the several implementation of the NAP. institutions, intertwined with the key issues, emanating out of the NAP. All the 15 committees formed to supervise implementation of the Sub committees NAP are lying dormant. There is no information on the meetings held, if To oversee the implementation of the any. 20 points of NAP, the government initially constituted 15 different Interestingly, federal interior subcommittees. These committees minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan comprised ministers, senior said that the subcommittees were government officials, and top army constituted for “consultation to officials. devise a cogent anti-terror policy”. NAP, he said, “outcome of that Eleven (11) of these committees were consultative process.”1 This should to be headed by the federal minister mean that the committees were of interior, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan. automatically called off, once NAP This makes him head of almost 73% was announced. “The process against of the committees, including the ones the terrorism and extremism has on preventing emergence of militias, been streamlined”, he said justifying on curbing hate speech, and on the absence of committees. stemming proscribed outfits.

1Authors’ interview with Federal Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.

Comprehensive review of NAP

Chronology of the events, however, further deliberations, but this is not suggests the committees were being followed,” he said. formed after announcement of the NAP. In fact, the committees were Apex committees formed on the points of NAP. As if these committees were not Minister of state for interior affairs, enough, apex committees comprising Muhammad Balighur Rehman, military and political leadership however, linked their formation to were also formed in all provinces to monitoring the implementation of oversee NAP’s implementation NAP. Initially, he said, these there. The formation of the apex committees met regularly.2 “The committees was announced by the frequency of the meetings has ISPR through a press release, which dropped down in recent months, as said that they would help coordinate the implementation of the NAP is the security agencies working in now directly being monitored by the different provinces and implement PM’s Office.”3 the NAP.5

Rehman, however, parried questions The ISPR initially said it would about composition of the different “constitute both military and committees and their performance. political leadership.” The post- meeting statements often share Conversely, Rustam Shah Mohmand, details about the participants of the one of the authors of the NAP and meeting. But the exact composition of privy to the subsequent each apex committees remains a developments, says the committees mystery. were supposed to meet fortnightly and send a performance report to the Many of the official figures on arrests prime minister for further and crackdowns are taken from the evaluation.4 “As per SOP, fortnight press releases issued after the apex meetings of these committees were committees’ meetings. necessary to assess the performance of law enforcement agencies and The number of apex committees meetings held in different provinces are also not shared publicly. The

2Authors’ interview with Minister of 5Press Release, No PR5/2015-ISPR, State for Interior Muhammad Balighur January 3, 2015, Rehman. https://www.ispr.gov.pk/front/main.a 3 Ibid. sp?o=t-press_release&date=2015/1/3. 4Authors’ interview with Rustam Shah Mohmand, a former diplomat and one of the authors of the NAP.

Fighting terror: institutional structure in the context of NAP interior ministry said that so far 30 departments, inspector generals of meetings of apex committees of all police and security agencies on provinces have been held which implementation of the NAP. “We monitor the progress report. keep close coordination with the provinces and apprise the prime Apparently, it was NACTA’s job to minister on implementation status of coordinate with all the apex the NAP through periodic reports,” committees and maintain the record, he claimed.8 but that isn’t being done there because of NACTA’s own limitations Part of the confusion probably of funds and human power. emanates from how NACTA is foreseen. The authority’s outgoing NACTA NC categorically said the NACTA is not part of any decision-making The NACTA was mainly responsible committee like the apex committees. to keep record of all the meetings of Instead, NACTA, he said, serves only the committees formed for as a think-tank to the prime minister implementation of the national and interior ministry. counter-terrorism strategy, including meetings of the provincial apex On day-to-day performance, the committees.6 authority has to play its role. Since the release of NAP, not a single board Reality, however, seems to differ. meeting has been held so far. The Azhar Karim Khawaja, former government’s plan of establishing National Coordinator (NC) of the Joint Intelligence Director has yet to NACTA, says nobody in the materialize. Despite repeated provinces cares to send or share requests, NACTA declined to share information with the authority any details on implementation of the because of its ineffectiveness. “There NAP, raising question marks over its is no institutional record of these performance, transparency, and meetings with the NACTA mainly capacity. because the authority is facing shortage of manpower and The low performance is owed to low resources,” he said.7 capacity and budget. Interestingly, it’s outgoing NC too acceded that the However, NACTA’s outgoing authority is understaffed and under- National Coordinator claimed to be resourced, saying the sanctioned in touch with home secretaries of the strength of the body is 203 while provinces, counter terrorism presently only 57 employees are

6Authors’ interview with former National 7 Ibid. Coordinator of NACTA Azhar Karim 8Authors’ interview with the NACTA Khawaja. National Coordinator Hamid Ali Khan.

Comprehensive review of NAP working9. “Only three officers are the NACTA, but Prime Minister working in the NACTA to look after Nawaz Sharif has yet to decide about day to day affairs while rest is all the structure of the authority,” he said.13 support staff,” he said. (Khan himself left the office in August 2015). NACTA Act places it under the Prime Minster, but in July 2013, the Even now, in the 2015-16 budget, the government notified to bring the government didn’t allocate a single NACTA under ambit of the Interior penny for the authority, speaking Ministry. volumes about will of the government to make the NACTA a Although the court subsequently cogent institution to fight terrorism. declared transfer of the NACTA from the prime minister’s control to the Although the Minister of Interior interior ministry illegal, the interior replies that it has asked for funds for ministry is still overseeing the NACTA, the effort seems late and NACTA.14 It is the interior ministry cosmetic.10 To NACTA, rejections to that is managing day to day fund demands are not new. “Each expenditures of the NACTA through year a committee is constituted after its secret funds and National Crisis the budget for recommendation of Management Cell’s budget.15 funds for the NACTA but this never sees light of the day too,” said Hamid Javed Iqbal, a former law officer at Ali Khan.11 NACTA, who filed the first petition against the transfer of NACTA to Finance Ministry has its own reasons interior minister, isn’t pursuing of not releasing funds. Secretary against the recent state of affairs.16 Finance Dr Waqar Masood informed Like many others, a former head of the Senate Standing Committee on NACTA deem the status as “illegal.” Finance that the government still remains indecisive about structure of NACTA’s questionable performance the authority.12 “The Finance is often owned to the turf war Ministry is ready to allocate funds for between civilian and military. As to

9 Ibid. 12Shahbaz Rana, "Senate body seeks 10Authors’ interview with Interior funds for APS victims' families," Express Ministry’s joint secretary Muhammad Tribune, July 14, 2015. Asghar Chaudhry. Chaudhry said: “We 13Ibid. are struggling to get funds for the 14 Malik Asad, "Nacta's transfer to interior NACTA, as this is a primary institution to ministry declared illegal,” Dawn, July 10, devise policies and counter terrorism in 2014, the country.” http://www.dawn.com/news/1118282. 11Authors’ interview with NACTA 15Authors’ interview with NACTA’ National Coordinator Hamid Ali Khan. former Law Officer Javed Iqbal. 16Ibid.

Fighting terror: institutional structure in the context of NAP what exactly divides the two is said, beside other issues, were unclear. hindering the authority to become an independent and professional According to a former top official of institution. “Everybody wants to take NACTA, the appointment of charge of the foreign grants but National Coordinator has been a nobody wants to do actual work major bone of contention between prescribed in the NACTA Act,” he civilians and military, as the latter said.19 (The foreign assistance, wants to take over the authority’s however, couldn’t make its way to affairs. “Until an amendment is made NACTA.) in the act to include khakis to be appointed as the National PM-COAS meetings Coordinator, the NACTA is bound to remain a dormant body,” he To review progress on believed.17 implementation of the National Action Plan, Prime Minister Nawaz The appointments made by civilian Sharif held regular meetings in government in the NACTA were also December 2014 and January 2015; the not acceptable to the military frequency of these meetings establishment, says some, as gradually came down in subsequent inexperienced or junior officials were months. Initially, the prime minister appointed to look after the sensitive was briefed by relevant federal matters. As per the Act, the National ministers, secretaries and home Coordinator should be of grade-22 secretaries of ministers about officer, but the government had progress on implementation of the appointed to the post a grade-20 NAP but gradually it reduced to only officer in the past.18 one-to-one meetings between the PM and Chief of Army Staff to discuss Yet another former official revealed the anti-terror plan. that the NACTA has become a bone of contention among Prime Minister The institutions like NACTA that Office, Ministry of Interior and were supposed to be strengthened as military mainly, because of foreign per directions of the prime minister grants for the authority to curb were ignored and that’s why the terrorism and extremism. Several implementation and strategies are countries have been hinting at giving being discussed in one-to-one funds to NACTA. These funds, he meetings instead. The prime minister

17Author’s interview with a former his defence", Dawn, July 2, 2014, official of NACTA, who requested http://www.dawn.com/news/1116461 anonymity. 19Authors’ interview with NACTA’s 18 For details on appointments, see Malik former officer who witnessed the legal Asad, "Nacta chief hires private firm for fights of NACTA

Comprehensive review of NAP constituted a special committee on institutions that later hinder the December 26, 2014 to ensure implementation process.20 expeditious and effective implementation of the National Key issues Action Plan to wipe out terrorism in the country. He vowed to oversee the Noticeably, civil-military relations enforcement of the action plan but have also been impacting the on- after that the public was not going operations against terrorists informed about meetings of the and militants, let alone special committee and its outcome. implementation of the NAP. In February 2015, Director General of The special committee headed by the ISPR, military’s media wing, said prime minister comprises Minister that some parts of the National for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Action Plan are being implemented Khan, Minister for Defence Khawaja while “other aspects require more Muhammad Asif, Minister for time due to political challenge.”21 Information and Broadcasting Pervaiz Rasheed, Minister for A former military general argued, “It Planning Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for is true the civil-military relations States and Frontier Regions Abdul have been hampering the fight Qadir Baloch and Advisor to PM on against terrorism. Part of the reason Foreign Affairs and National is that political leadership has always Security Sartaj Aziz. preferred to outsource the fight against militancy and extremism to There is no harm in one-to-one military and army-led institutions.”22 meeting of the prime minister and the chief of army staff but the The blame game should come to an decisions made in these meetings end, as Pakistan cannot be terror free should be conveyed to relevant until all security agencies, military security institutions through a and civil institutions work together proper mechanism. Currently, with the same passion to flush out decisions are made in the one-to-one militants.23 meetings without consultation and deliberations of the relevant Another issue is about the extent to which institutions, as opposed to

20Authors’ interview with former 22Authors’ interview with Gen (retd.) diplomat and one of the authors of the Talat Masood, a defence and security NAP Rustam Shah Mohmand. expert based in Islamabad. 21"NAP will take time to implement due 23 Ibid. to political challenges: DG ISPR," The News, June 19, 2015.

Fighting terror: institutional structure in the context of NAP individuals, are responsible for support for the students, most of implementing NAP’s points. them are either orphan or come from humble backgrounds.24 The case of madrassa reforms, a NAP point, is pertinent to look into. “Being a state minister, I cannot allow the faulty registration system Background interviews reveal that of the madrassas to go ahead. I have the state minister himself is reluctant expressed my strong reservations on to register the madrassas under the the process and it is stalled now,” new policy. He argues that the said Hasnat Shah.25 government’s process of registration of the seminaries is flawed as it wants to scrutinise funds of the madrassas but doesn’t want to provide any

List of sub NAP subcommittee and their members1

Committee Name Members

Main Committee Mian M. Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Pakistan (Chair) Interior Minister Finance Minister Minister for Planning Information Minister Defence Minister Minister for SAFRON Governor KP Advisor to PM on Foreign Affairs & National Security Special Assistant to PM on Parliamentary Affairs Afghan Refugees Ch. Nisar A. Khan, Interior Minister (Chair) Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister SAFRON Chairman NADRA

24Authors’ interview with State Minister 25 Ibid. for Ministry of Religious Affairs and Inter 1The list is derived from the website of Faith Harmony Muhammad Amin Ul NAP Watch, a watchdog on NAP, Hasnat Shah. available at: www.napwatch.pk.

Comprehensive review of NAP

Other senior officials Armed Militias Ch. Nisar A. Khan, Interior Minister (Chair) Director General Inter-Services Intelligence Director General Intelligence Bureau DG Military Operations (MO) Interior Secretary National Coordinator of NACTA Provincial Home Secretaries including FATA, GB & AJK Counter-Terrorism Ch. Nisar A. Khan, Interior Minister (Chair) Force Minister Defence Minister Finance Director General Military Operations Finance Secretary Interior Secretary National Coordinator NACTA Criminal Justice System Ch. Nisar A. Khan, Federal Interior Minister (Chair) Interior Secretary Provincial Home Secretaries Representative of ISI Representative of IB Law Secretary FATA Reforms Mehtab Abbasi, Governor KP (Chair) Finance Minister Minister Planning Minister SAFRON Secretary Economic Affairs Corps Commander 11 Corps Peshawar and FATA Hate Speech Ch. Nisar A. Khan, Interior Minister (Chair) Minister Religious Affairs Minister Planning Minister Information DG ISI DG IB Secretary Interior National Coordinator NACTA MD PTV All provincial Home Secretaries All provincial Secretaries of Auqaf Karachi Operation Ch. Nisar A. Khan, Interior Minister (Chair)

Fighting terror: institutional structure in the context of NAP

Governor Sindh CM Sindh DG Rangers And others (not specified) Madrassa Regulation Ch. Nisar A. Khan, Interior Minister (Chair) Minister of Religious Affairs Secretary Religious Affairs State Minister for Education All Home Secretaries All Secretaries of Auqaf Departments Proscribed Ch. Nisar A. Khan, Interior Minister (Chair) Organisations DG ISI DG IB Secretary Interior All Provincial Home Secretaries Religious Persecution Ch. Nisar A. Khan, Interior Minister (Chair) Minister Religious Affairs Secretary Religious Affairs Secretary Interior Coordinator NACTA IGPs of all Provinces, GB, AJK & Islamabad All Provincial Home Secretaries All Provincial Secretaries of Auqaf Departments Sectarian Terrorism Ch. Nisar A. Khan, Interior Minister (Chair) DG IB IGs of all Provinces, GB, AJK & Islamabad Home Secretaries of all Provinces Heads of Counter Terrorism Departments Secretary Interior Secretary Coordinator NACTA Social Media / Internet Interior Ministry (Chair) Abuse

Comprehensive review of NAP

Dead wrong

Najam U Din

 Najam U Din is a lawyer, a former journalist and a human rights activist working currently with the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. He has done his LLM in International Human Rights Law from Lund University, Sweden. He is a former associate editor of Conflict and Peace Studies.

mmediately after the December 16 attack on the military headquarters in I Taliban attack on Army Public Rawalpindi and for the 2003 School (APS) in Peshawar last year, assassination attempts on military Pakistan scrapped a six-year ruler General Pervez Musharraf.3 informal moratorium on executions, and approved “execution of death Three months later, in March, penalty in terrorism-related cases”.1 Pakistan resumed executions for all The executions had been suspended death penalty offences, doing away in December 2008. with the caveat of hanging convicted ‘terrorists’ only.4 Within a week, by December 24, the federal government facilitated a The abolition and retention ‘national consensus’ on a National arguments Action Plan (NAP) to counter terrorism. Those who listened to the Since the resumption of executions, prime minister deliver the 20-point pro- and anti-death penalty action plan in a televised address advocates have been fervently would recall that the first point he articulating whether the death mentioned was resumption of penalty is a panacea to stopping 2 execution of convicted terrorists. terrorist attacks in Pakistan. This early reference indicated that capital punishment was considered Several national and international one of the preferred weapons in the human rights activists and counter-terrorism arsenal. organisations as well as the United Nations and European Union have Over the last two weeks of December, urged the government to stop the seven prisoners were hanged. These executions and/or revive the were mainly convicted for the 2009 moratorium on death penalty.5

1 “PM lifts ban on death penalty in 4 “Govt ends death penalty freeze in all terrorism cases,” Express Tribune, cases,” The Nation, March 11, 2015. December 17, 2014. 5 “UN chief urges Pakistan to end 2 “Fight against terrorism: Defining executions, reinstate death penalty moment,” Express Tribune, December 25, moratorium,” UN News Centre, 2014. December 26, 2014; “UN rights chief 3 “Convicts in GHQ, Musharraf attack urges Pakistan Government to cases executed,” Dawn, December 20, reintroduce death penalty moratorium,” 2014; “At the gallows: 4 convicts in UN News Service, June 11, 2015; “EU Musharraf attack case executed,” Express opposes removal of moratorium on death Tribune, December 22, 2014; “Convict in penalty in Pakistan,” Dawn, December Musharraf attack case hanged,” Dawn, 24, 2014; “EU demands reinstatement of January 1, 2015; Human Rights death penalty moratorium in Pakistan,” Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), The Dawn, June 11, 2015. State of Human Rights in 2014, p. 96.

Comprehensive review of NAP

Human Rights Commission of could neither be released nor Pakistan (HRCP) opposed capital rehabilitated and could not even be punishment on account of “the well- secured within the prisons, as these documented deficiencies of the law, militants posed a constant and flaws in administration of justice and imminent threat of jailbreaks.7 investigation methods and chronic corruption.” It stated that in these ‘Terrorists’ or criminals? circumstances, “capital punishment allows for a high probability of In order to determine whether the miscarriage of justice, which is resumption of executions has wholly unacceptable in a civilised boosted the counter-terrorism effort, society, particularly because the as the pro- camp argues, the first step punishment is irreversible.”6 must be to grasp who is a terrorist in official reckoning and what are Human rights organisations argue ‘terrorism charges’. that research around the world has shown that the death penalty does Pakistan’s anti-terror laws essentially not lead to reduction in crime. They bracket some offences as constituting cite the high prevalence of crime in terrorism. Thus, someone accused of leading executing states, such as crime can be counted as a ‘terrorist’, China and Iran, as evidence that provided the charge against that capital punishment does not serve as person was brought under an anti- a deterrent against crime. terror law.

On the other hand, supporters of the Foremost among these laws is the death penalty in Pakistan put forth Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), which, their own arguments, usually citing besides identifying terrorism-related religious mandate for capital offenses, also marks non-terrorism- punishment and accentuating its related offenses.8 supposed deterrence value. Such extensive application of the Those in favour of executions argue ATA has drawn criticism from that this is the only way available for several rights groups. In a report on the government to deal with the death row prisoners, Justice Project scourge of terrorism and militancy in Pakistan, a human rights Pakistan. It is also argued that organisation, noted that the dangerous and hardened criminals definition of terrorism in Pakistan’s

6 “HRCP calls for staying planned 8 “Pakistan lifts death penalty executions; abolishing death penalty,” moratorium,” AlJazeera, December 17, Daily Times, September 12, 2014. 2014. 7 “Death penalty debate,” Dawn, January 12, 2015.

Dead wrong

anti-terror laws was “vague and they were accused of committing overly broad, bearing little individual crimes, which had relationship to terrorism as it is nothing to do with any religious, commonly understood” and that political, or ideological goals. these laws were “being grossly overused, often in cases that bear no  Out of the 195 executed, only 22 relation to terrorism.”9 people had been convicted for sectarian-, militancy- or terrorism- ‘Progress’ so far related charges, such as assassinations, assassination Here are some key findings attempts, sectarian murders, killing regarding the individuals executed of security officials, or hijacking. from December 19, 2014 until July 31, 2015, drawn from media reports and  Almost all of the remaining 173 data tabulated by the Human Rights people executed had been common Commission of Pakistan (HRCP): criminals. This means that at least eight out of every nine convicts  195 convicts had been executed hanged since December last had not during the period mentioned, been ‘terrorists’ but common making this year’s executions in criminals – individuals who had been Pakistan the country’s highest over accused of murder, robbery, the last decade. The executions in the possession of narcotics, property first five months of 2015 alone disputes, etc.12 Thus, despite the fast- exceeded the tally of 134 – the total paced hanging, ‘terrorists’ formed a number of executions in 2007, the tiny minority of those executed.13 highest for any one year in the last 10 decade, reported HRCP.  Almost all of the 22 ‘legally- sanctioned terrorists’ were hanged  Of the 195 individuals put to death, from December 2014 through no more than 42 could be called February 2015, in the early days after ‘terrorists’ under all possible the formulation of NAP. Most of the interpretations of the word.11 Even remaining 173 convicts had been among the 42, many might only be executed in non-terrorism cases considered common criminals – as under the Pakistan Penal Code, and

9 Justice Project Pakistan and Reprieve, 11 A list of those executed can be seen at: Terror on Death Row, pp. 3 & 5, hrcp-web.org/hrcpweb/who-has-been- December 2014, executed. www.jpp.org.pk/upload/Terror on 12 Ibid. Death Row/2014_12_15_PUB WEP 13 “Militants in minority in Pakistan Terrorism Report.pdf. execution drive, deterrent effect 10 “HRCP concerned over 135 debated,” Reuters, July 26, 2015. executions,” Dawn, June 4, 2015.

Comprehensive review of NAP under other laws, such as the Control suggesting that the security situation of Narcotic Substances Act. The had improved somewhat. number of hangings rose exponentially from March 2015 But, as noted earlier, ‘terrorists’ form onwards, when executions resumed a small minority of those hanged. for all capital offences. The number of Even as the 195 executions have hangings declined for June and July, already put Pakistan among the as the government suspended world’s top executioners, the executions in the name of “respecting available evidence suggests that the human dignity” during the Muslim overwhelming majority of those fasting month of Ramazan, which executed so far have not been started in mid-June and ended mid- ‘terrorists’. Whither all notions of July.14 supposed deterrence, then?

Reflections on the way Just like some existing research lays forward bare the myth of capital punishment serving as a deterrent against crime, the mass executions spree that The death penalty can only be considered an effective terrorism- Pakistan has embarked on seems unlikely to boost significantly its fighting tool provided it deters those engaged in militancy or terrorism. anti-terrorism efforts. It has been argued, with some merit, that many

42 39 40 31

19 13 7 4 0 Jan-Nov '14 Dec '14 Jan '15 Feb '15 March '15 April '15 May '15 June '15 July '15

Executions

Prima facie, it might appear that the of the extremist terrorists that the resumption of executions has executions have seemingly been coincided with some decline in the revived for are individuals who – on incidence and severity of terrorist account of their indoctrination or attacks in the country in 2015, conviction, however misplaced that might be – are committed to dying

14 “HRCP on executions: human dignity web.org/hrcpweb/hrcp-on-executions- should be respected all year round,” human-dignity-should-be-respected-all- HRCP, June 23, 2015, hrcp- year-round.

Dead wrong for their ‘cause’; and that the fear of Or, may be the state was just waiting hanging might not deter them.15 for an excuse to resume the hangings. After all, this is a state that chose to At one level, it can be argued that the suspend executions for six years, return to executions might not have without ever bothering to explain the been about elimination of terrorism rationale for the moratorium to the at all. It might just have been the state populace. Throughout this time, the bowing to a deeply traumatised and state did not even pretend to try equally brutalised society’s call for reducing the 27 odd death penalty retribution. As much as anything offences on the statute books, despite else, resuming executions after the reminders and advice from rights APS massacre could well have been a groups. It chose not to initiate a message to reassure a populace discourse on the abolition of the yearning for peace that the state was death penalty. not out of options, and that it had the stomach to act tough and take the Addressing terrorism by relying on fight to the terrorists. the death penalty alone would be akin to treating only the symptom The path to the gallows was chosen, and ignoring the root cause. perhaps, because it was the easiest Defeating the sort of terrorism that one to reassure the people; or at least, afflicts Pakistan would be difficult, if easier than confronting Taliban not impossible, without confronting apologists and challenging the and defeating the ideology of hate militant ideology that persuades and intolerance that provides people to kill and die. impetus and foot soldiers to the militant extremist establishments.

This would involve military action, learning from past mistakes of nurturing militant surrogates, reaching out to the militant rank and file with the stick of military action and the possibility of reform and rehabilitation, and effective investigation and prosecution to bring the militants to justice for their crimes.

15 Ibid.

Comprehensive review of NAP

Special courts

Shahzad Akbar

Mirza Shahzad Akbar qualified as Barrister from Lincoln’s Inn and LLM from University of Newcastle. He is Director of Foundation for Fundamental Rights, an organization working towards advancement, protection and enforcement of fundamental human rights.

n light of National Action Plan, tribunal. A large number of people I several military-led special courts attended his funeral, showing the have been set up across the country. presence of pro-militant mindset, Today, they operate with secrecy. which stays unaddressed in NAP or This sets wrong precedent. In any its execution. case, military courts are not the solution to cut in militancy in the To establish such courts, the long-range. What is needed is a long- government, with the support of term strategy, which, instead of some other political parties, dismantling the constitutional setup, amended the Pakistani constitution strengthens it. So far, that is still as well as Pakistan Army Act, 1952. missing. The first was made possible by the 21st Constitutional Amendment Bill, Shrouded in secrecy 2015; and the second, by Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill, 2015. After the Peshawar carnage, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced Liberal parties voted in favour of the National Action Plan, one of the amendments, despite internal points being the establishment of reservations that the changes amount military-led special courts to try to sacrificing democratic values. convicted terrorists. To many, this Pakistan People’s Party Senator Raza was predictable. Rabbani labeled supporting the amendments to swallowing “bitter Predictable, because the sentences pill” for the “security of Pakistan.” from military tribunal had come out, Religious parties objected the move, even before the National Action Plan arguing that the amendment unfairly was hammered out. On December singles out religion-inspired 16th, as Prime Minister Sharif lifted militancy only. Pakistan Tehreek-e- the seven-years-old moratorium on Insaf, ruling party of Khyber death penalty, army chief General Pakhtunkhwa, a province hit hard by Raheel Shareef signed the execution militancy, publicly supported the warrants of six terrorists earlier tried amendments but refrained from by a military tribunal. The 20-point voting in their support due to NAP, on the other hand, was rolled political differences with the ruling out on December 24th, 2014. party in the center.

Pakistan resumed these executions, These amendments made way for soon. Again, the first to be executed, what is commonly called as military Arshad Mehmood, was before the courts for a period of two years. NAP was announced – on December Military officers, instead of civilian 20th, 2014. A former military judges, will try convicted terrorists. personnel, Arshad was earlier The court operates under Judge sentenced to death by a military

Comprehensive review of NAP

Advocate General, the Army’s legal were being tried in Anti-Terrorism wing. Courts. Their cases have been forwarded so that they get convicted. Under the new constitutional amendment, a total of nine military In late August 2015, we have seen courts have been established; these usage of another special law, include three in KP, three in Punjab, Protection of Pakistan Act 2014, two in Sindh, and one in when it was invoked to arrest and Balochistan. Legally, provinces have detain a former federal minister in been sending terrorism cases to the Karachi. This has raised serious military courts through the interior questions about misuse of such laws. ministry. Not first time By mid-2015, the military courts have sentenced 6 people to death. The It is not the first time that military Supreme Court had earlier courts are set up in Pakistan. Besides suspended execution of these the military dictators, democratic convicts until the constitutionality of governments too have established the special courts was decided. such courts in the past. In 1970s, for However, in August 2015, the instance, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto set up Supreme Court gave its approval to summary military courts in the military courts, in a divided Balochistan. Likewise, in 1999, Prime opinion, with option of appealing Minister Nawaz Sharif’s government military courts conviction if a asked for special courts in Sindh, question of fair trial or due process is amid governor’s rule there; this raised by the accused. despite that the cases could then be dealt under the Anti-Terrorism Act, Trials of the military courts are secret. introduced only two years earlier in Information about them is therefore 1997. hard to get; no one knows who is being tried, for what, and how. However, both those special Overall, however, nothing is known tribunals, set up under Bhutto and whether the accused has hired Sharif, were challenged in the apex lawyers of choice and if, at all, courts: civilian lawyers may appear before the proceedings. The ones set up by Bhutto were challenged in Lahore and Sindh high Even though interior minister courts, in cases namely Darvesh M. Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan assured Arbey v. Federation of Pakistan (PLD that only hard-core terrorists would 1980 Lahore 206) and Niaz Ahmed be tried in these tribunals, several Khan v. Province of Sindh (PLD 1977 cases referred by the provincial Karachi 604). The superior judiciary government are of terrorists who

Special courts declared the summary courts These courts directly clash with the unconstitutional, demonstrating that constitutional requirement of the civil authorities as well as the separation of powers. By appointing security forces could not act outside military personnel to dispense the constitutional parameters and justice, the special courts in effect limits. blur the line between judiciary and executive. Same was the fate of courts set under Sharif. The Supreme Court, under The establishment of special courts Chief Justice Ajmal Mian, banned the contravenes many fundamental establishment of military courts, in rights the Constitution embodies: the case of Sh Liaquat Hussein v. Article 4 caters for right to life, liberty Federation of Pakistan (1999 SCMR and property; Article 9 provides for 569), declaring them unconstitutional security of person; Article 10 and of no legal effect. Holding that a stipulates the right to a fair trial and parallel judicial system cannot exist due process; and Article 14 in the country, the Supreme Court guarantees right to dignity. All these ruled that the executive is articles are violated by the special unauthorized to set up any judicial courts. system that lacks superintendence and control of the superior courts. Proponents of these speedy courts termed it need of the hour, as, they This time too, the constitutionality of say, the civilian criminal justice, has the military courts was challenged. miserably failed at convicting Lahore High Court Bar Association terrorists at all. They argue that in challenged the establishment of ordinary courts witnesses would military courts on the grounds backtrack or the prosecutors and similar to the one made in the past. judges would not proceed due to This time, however, the court upheld serious threats to their lives. the constitutional amendment establishing the military courts, but The military-led courts ignore the gave right to challenge convictions in elaborate system put in place to superior courts on grounds of lack of otherwise try ordinary cases. For due process and fair trial. instance, under the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898, an accused is given Negative development notice of the allegations as well as copies of evidence, seven days before Special courts leave a negative charges are framed against that imprint on the country’s fragile person. But that is missing in military democracy. courts, where an accessed is already declared terrorist. The objective of punishment takes precedence over justice.

Comprehensive review of NAP

In any case, replacing a civilian judge holistic, long-term strategy without with a military office just because the usurping the existing democratic and latter will brave threats won’t solve legal set up. the entire problem. What about the investigation, prosecution, and The anti-terrorism courts can be operation branches? What if they too strengthened, first through working are susceptible to threats? As long as on infrastructure uplifting and holistic reform is missing, it is capacity building. There is a serious reasonable to doubt that the military- need for criminal justice system led courts would achieve any result. reforms in the country especially procedural overhaul. Archaic Setting up military tribunals to procedures from 19th century colonial summarily try suspects or hang them era simply cannot deliver in today’s in public won’t be of much effect if environment, where on the one side, the militant minds continue to thrive. we face serious existential threat due The funeral of Mehmood, the first to terrorism, but also an over one to be put to death after lifting reaching executive that threatens the moratorium on death sentence, offers concept of a just and fair state. a case study. That a large number of mourners attended his funeral in his Meanwhile, the top judges of the ancestral village raises question country laid down a strategy to marks on the purpose of instilling expedite the disposal of terrorism fear through military courts has been cases. The strategy, involving served at all. hearing cases on a daily basis and constituting special benches, came in The very purpose of military courts is the meeting chaired by Chief Justice to resolve an issue too quickly. of Pakistan, Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk, However, being quick doesn’t entail and attended by the chief justices of being just. A comparison can be the provincial high courts. This made with how the United States critical decision, however, is obtained some confessions through overshadowed by the decision of torture. Khalid Sheikh Mohammad, establishing military courts, which for instance, confessed to his crimes, made the strategy redundant. within minutes of being water- boarded. Yet, doubts linger if any Unfortunately, despite passing of a anti-terror milestone was ever considerable time since December achieved from that technique. 16th 2014, no steps have been taken by the government or any other organ of Long-term strategy the state to reform the criminal justice system which is crying out for a Countering terrorism, on the other meaningful overhaul. hand, requires a comprehensive,

Comprehensive review of NAP

NACTA, nay activated

Tariq Parvez

Tariq Parvez served as the founding National Coordinator of NACTA (2008-2010) and as Director General of Federal Investigation Agency (2005-2008).

ne had thought that the horrific But six months down the road, the O terrorist attack on Army Public reality doesn’t differ. Except for the School in Peshawar in December military not letting us forget the 2014 would evoke a robust response. attack, the old official line has been Much hope was pinned on the treaded. In fact, if there is anything National Action Plan, a list of actions that reflects the government’s lack of the government announced to fight seriousness on strategizing against terrorism in the country.1Not least, militants, it is the progress, or lack of because the National Counter it, on NACTA. Terrorism Authority [NACTA], is often taken as a coordinating point of Is NACTA needed? all steps of NAP.2 A great need has long been felt for a This was a decision of fundamental focal institution at the federal level, to nature for integrating and plan, coordinate and orchestrate orchestrating the national counter counter-terrorism efforts. Post 9/11, terrorism effort. Unfortunately, the national counter terrorism effort NACTA has been in the news mostly in Pakistan was fragmented, with no for its dormancy than any activity. coordination between the provinces Making it the prime national and the federal government, the coordinating body for counter military and the civilian agencies and terrorism, means activating it first different federal ministries having a (one of the points of the National role in counter terrorism. This lack of Action Plan). unity of effort between different stakeholders weakened the national For a while, it looked so. After the response. APS tragedy, Prime Minister Sharif shared strong desire of making In January 2009, National Counter- NACTA functional.3 On December Terrorism Authority, known by its 31st, 2014, the interior minister, after acronym NACTA, was set up chairing a meeting of the NACTA, precisely to fill that need: to too claimed that from then onwards, coordinate efforts of all counter- NACTA had been revitalized and terror stakeholders, civilian and made fully operational.4 military alike; and to address all dimensions of the terrorist threat.

1Dawn, Islamabad, December 27, 2014. 3 “PM sets NACTA in motion, forms 16 2The new National Coordinator of committees for NAP,” Pakistan Today, NACTA said that turning it into a December 28, 2014. coordinating body is among his top 4“Nisar orders immediate execution of priorities. death row terrorists,” Daily Times, January 1, 2015.

Comprehensive review of NAP

Four years later, in 2013, a law was The organization’s coordinating role passed to give NACTA a legal status, was reiterated after the APS school assigning it the following seven attack. In December 2014, the Interior functions: minister specified that “the point of coordinating” all the steps of 1. To receive, collate and National Action Plan would be disseminate intelligence on NACTA. terrorism and to issue periodical threat Reviewing NACTA assessments for use by stakeholders. The issue with NACTA has less to do 2. To prepare National Counter with its mandate, and more with its Terrorism and Extremism working. That is why NAP too calls Strategies and review for “revival” of NACTA, a body progress in their whose coordinating role seems to be implementation on a well-taken. Similar statements were periodical basis. made by Prime Minister and Interior 3. To develop action plans Minister, discussed above. against terrorism and extremism and submit Whatever little is known about progress on implementation NACTA’s revival trickles through of these plans on a periodical media reports. The government has, basis on the other hand, hardly shared any 4. To carry out research in areas information on the performance of relevant to terrorism and NACTA, probably because there is extremism and to share the little to share. research with stakeholders. 5. To carry out liaison with  Management international entities for cooperating in counter Six months after APS school attack, terrorism and extremism. NACTA still suffers from the same 6. To review relevant laws and institutional inattention that had suggest amendments to the rendered it useless in the first place. Federal Government. 7. To appoint committees of First of all, to date, there remains experts from government confusion whether NACTA comes and non-government sectors under the Prime Minister or the for deliberating in areas Federal Interior Minister. The turf relating to the functions and war dates back to its genesis in 2009, mandate of NACTA.5 when opinion was divided on which

5Section 4 of NACTA Act, 2013.

NACTA, nay activated office should look after it; the functions of the NACTA; providing it decision was finally made in favour strategic vision and overseeing its of the Prime Minister’s Office. activities; recommending rules, policies, or manuals to carry out the But sometimes later, NACTA was purposes of NACTA Act; and placed under the interior minister. approving the annual budget For quite some time, it looked that prepared by the NACTA. while the administrative function of NACTA is with interior ministry, the Without convening the board operation functions rest with the meeting, efforts to make NACTA PM’s Office. This sounded like functional will fall flat. duality of offices. Thirdly, no Board meeting means no In 2013, the Supreme Court of strategic guidance and no Pakistan asked the government to operational directions of the revert the notification that put Executive Committee to follow on. NACTA under the interior ministry, bringing it again under the PM. Yet, Headed by the Interior Minister, the there seems little action on that order, Executive Committee is the second as interior ministry continues to component of NACTA, responsible speak on behalf of the NACTA. for ensuring effective implementation of the decisions of Secondly, to date, not a single the Board, and performing other such meeting of the Board of Governors of functions as are assigned to it by the NACTA has been held, not even after Board. the NAP was announced in December 2014. This despite the fact Some two weeks after the APS school that Section 6 of NACTA Act, 2013, attack, the NACTA Executive mandates the Board to meet at least Committee met. That was December once in each quarter of a year. 31st 2014. Since then, no other such meeting took place. The Board of Governors is the most important component of its In any case, without prior Board management. Headed by the Prime sitting, the meeting of Executive Minister, the BoG includes top public Committee of NACTA may lack legal office holders from all over the standing. The EC, after all, is country, including chief ministers of supposed to implement the the four provinces.6 directives of the Board.

The Board has four functions i.e. exercising all the powers and

6Section 5 of NACTA Act.

Comprehensive review of NAP

Finally, the present head of NACTA, Minister on how to implement known as National Coordinator, is National Action Plan. Progress on powerless. both ends is far from satisfactory.

National Coordinator is the most For one, the decision of setting up crucial component of NACTA helpline doesn’t fit in the role of management, delegated with nine NACTA. Setting up helplines is the functions including full responsibility of law-enforcement administrative and financial powers bodies like police or paramilitary for effective administration of the force, which operates on ground Authority. level. An organization like NACTA, on other hand, works at the strategic These powers, however, are to be tier. approved by the Board. Again, without Board meeting, the NC’s More so, the lifeline of the helpline powers are unclear, begging a simple seems doomed. On February 6th, question: how can an organization be almost two months after the helpline made functional if its head lacks was set up, the Interior Minister powers of hiring people or spending briefed the Prime Minister that the budget? helpline had received 161 calls. Nothing is known about the calls Amusingly, in what is typical of the received after that briefing. bureaucratic mind set, an Apparently, the government seemed organization without any functional more interested in seen to be doing headquarters of its own is asking for something than doing it. regional offices. The Interior Ministry even sent to the Prime Minister As of the second decision of the summary requesting approval for Executive Committee, about sending regional offices of NACTA. Again, recommendations to the Prime nothing has been heard about that Minister about how best to summary, too. implement NAP, no progress has been reported.  Tasks  Budget At the end of the Executive Committee meeting on December Many speculated that post-APS 31st, the interior minister shared that attack, the government will allocate NACTA will undertake two key significant chunk to NACTA. After tasks. One, it will set up a helpline, all, budgets of any institution clearly numbered 1717, for citizens to share reflect its value: the higher the any information on terrorist threat. budget, the greater the importance And two, NACTA will frame accorded to it. recommendations for the Prime

NACTA, nay activated

That turned out to be wishful strength, as 71 percent posts stay thinking. In the fiscal year 2015-16, no vacant. special budget is allocated for NACTA, a fact also conceded by the What is of greater concern is the finance secretary. The finance difference between the number of minister argued that NACTA’s officers and non-officers: out of the 60 budget has been included in the filled posts, 50 are non-officers interior ministry’s budget.7 This (clerks, naib qasids, etc.); only 10 are probably has been the day-to-day officers (grade 17 to 22), against their cost of running NACTA. What sanctioned strength of 34. NACTA has been demanding over the years, is special fund to activate it. The senior management of NACTA, meant to activate it, is in even worse A senior interior ministry official was shape. Out of 12 posts of grade 20 to quoted as saying that 960 million grade 22, including the head of rupees were required for making NACTA, only one is filled up – that NACTA functional and that they of the head.9 The remaining eleven, were carrying out negotiations with four members and seven directors the finance officials to get this general, who are supposed to help amount allocated to NACTA.8 the NC in running NACTA, are yet to be appointed.  Human resources Way forward More than six months after announcement of NAP, the working Six years after its genesis, and six strength of NACTA largely remains months after the APS tragedy, the the same, raising questions whether much-needed NACTA is still an the prime minster is too weak or too ineffective organization, or, in the non-serious, to have NAP words of interior secretary, a “paper implemented. tiger.” It has yet to be properly revived. According to an interior ministry official, who did not want to be To activate NACTA, the government named, NACTA has 206 sanctioned may well follow NACTA Act, which posts, out of which only 60 posts are neatly lays down the working filled up. This means NACTA is procedures of this body. working on 29 per cent of sanctioned Of foremost importance is convening a meeting of NACTA’s Board of

7“Billions for counter-terrorism, nothing 9 “NACTA needs men and money to fight for Nacta,” Express Tribune, June 7, 2015. terrorism” The News, March 11,2015. 8Ibid.

Comprehensive review of NAP

Governors. Without such a meeting, NACTA’s actualization will remain mere rhetoric. The meeting, on the other hand, will automatically set the path of its revival. The board’s meeting will not only gather the country’s top office holders to brainstorm on security threats, but also assign the much-desired powers to the organization’s head, alongside approving NACTA’s budget without routing it through the interior ministry.

Comprehensive review of NAP

Hate speech and restricted speech: striking a balance

Marvi Sirmed

 Marvi Sirmed is an Islamabad-based human rights activist, development professional and freelance columnist, covering issues related to counter-radicalization, civil-military relations, governance, and minority rights among others.

he twenty-point National Action as gender, ethnic origin, religion, T Plan, announced in the wake of race, disability, sexual orientation Peshawar school attack, carries etc.1 almost all aspects of countering terrorism, ranging from the all-out Hate speakers push societies and violence to states towards devastation. The last extremism/radicalisation. century is stained with several marks of genocides – Holocaust, for Much of the news about NAP these instance – a process hastened by hate days revolves around the issues speeches.2 having short-term significance like special courts and military operation. The menace of global terrorism is The issues having impact beyond often attributed to hate speech and today are missed out. For example, radicalisation, among other factors.3 issues of extremism and According to several studies on post- radicalisation that lie at the core of 9/11 terrorism, hate speech mostly the problem of terrorism, are produces hate crime, which is often reflected negligibly when it comes to precursor to terrorism. the action on ground. There is a reason why it is so, This article intends to detangle especially in the context of Pakistan. NAP’s provision number 5, i.e., Terrorism is graduated upon the hate countering hate speech and extremist crimes of right-wing forces, materials. indicating a build-up of anti- minority sentiments.4 Hating the “hate speech” It is thus absolutely urgent for a Hate speech is more or less defined as country like Pakistan to constrict the any speech that attacks a person or flow of terrorist ideologies. This can group on the basis of attributes such be achieved by breaking the

1 John T. Nockleby, “Hate speech,” the 2014 Sudikoff Annual in Encyclopedia of the American Interdisciplinary Seminar), Constitution, ed. Leonard W. Levy and http://www.ushmm.org/m/pdfs/2015 Kenneth L. Karst, vol. 3, 2nd edition 0512-sudikoff-report.pdf (accessed (Detroit: Macmillan Reference US, 2000), August 18, 2015). 1277-1279, quoted in Margaret Brown- 3Kathleen Deloughery, Ryan D. King and Sica and Jeffrey Beall , “Library 2.0 and Victor Asal, “Close cousins or distant the Problem of Hate Speech," Electronic relatives? The relationship between Journal of Academic and Special terrorism and hate crime,” Crime and Librarianship 1, no. 2 (Summer 2008). Delinquency, 2“Countering dangerous speech, http://cad.sagepub.com/content/58/5/ protecting free speech: practical 663 (accessed August 18, 2015). strategies to prevent genocide” (Report of 4 Ibid

Comprehensive review of NAP fountainhead – the hate Soon after Pakistan ratified the speech/extremist material. The fifth ICCPR in 2009, a debate started in the point of NAP rightly calls for parliament as to how can the countering hate speech and country’s laws be amended in extremism material. compliance to the ICCPR.

Existing codes It emerged that the existing Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) quite rigorously Even though hate speech is not covers those offences that can be definitively defined or enshrined in distinguished as “hate speech”. international law, there are provisions that identify expressions Take Section 153-A (a), for instance. It considered as hate speech. These criminalises anyone who “by words, provisions serve as bulwark against either spoken or written, or by signs, the spread of hate speech. or by visible representations or otherwise, promotes or incites or The Convention on the Prevention attempts to promote and incite and Punishment of the Crime of disharmony, enmity, hatred or ill- Genocide criminalizes “direct and will between different religious, public incitement to commit racial, language or regional groups or genocide”. Likewise, the castes or communities, on grounds of International Convention on the religion, race, place of both, Elimination of All Forms of Racial residence, language, caste or Discrimination (ICERD) asks states community or any other ground to criminalize “all dissemination of whatsoever.”6 ideas based on racial superiority or racial hatred as well as incitement to Similarly, Section 153-A (B), punishes racial discrimination.”5 anyone who “commits, or incites any other person to commit, any act Another prominent covenant is the which is prejudicial to the International Covenant on Civil and maintenance of harmony between Political Rights (ICCPR), which asks different religious, racial, language states that “any advocacy of national, or regional groups or castes or racial or religious hatred that communities or any group of persons constitutes incitement to identifiable as such on any ground discrimination, hostility or violence shall be prohibited by law.”

5 Dr. Tarlach McGonagle, “The Council of http://www.ivir.nl/publicaties/downlo Europe against online hate speech: ad/1088 (accessed August 18, 2015). Conundrums and challenges,” Institute 6 Pakistan Penal Code, (XLV OF1860) for Information Law (IViR), [6th October, 1860].

Hate speech and restricted speech: striking a balance whatsoever and which disturbs or is traditionally seen by the state with likely to disturb public tranquillity.”7 the lens of treason and infidelity.

Thus, the existing legal framework Stringent and tight laws targeting gives the state enough space to go hate-speech, hence, can be easily after the miscreants. What is rather used by regimes for snubbing dissent needed is that the law-enforcement and criticism in the name of hate- agencies must be trained and given speech. resources to track and handle hate- based crimes. That data should be This struggle between human rights publicly made available for defenders opposing hate-speech laws continued public scrutiny. and counter-terrorism communities lobbying for such laws is fairly global Drawing line and not limited to Pakistan.8

From the human rights perspective, it While scholars deem free speech as is not always advisable to have inalienable right of the individual, an watertight provisions of law in the overwhelming majority of them limit name of hate speech, which the state free speech at a certain point, where may invoke to limit citizens’ right to it offends communities and free expression. individuals through a variety of expressions, which endangers them.9 In Pakistan’s peculiar context, with a chequered history of democracy and In Pakistan, the free speech vs. hate democratic struggle, the dictatorial speech debate is reflected in some regimes as well as intermittent contradicting laws. Resultantly, one civilian governments have tried to law in certain cases limits or clamp down people’s right to completely cancels the other laws expression. Legitimate concerns of that may provide relief to the human rights defenders and overall powerless communities. civil society representatives about the civil-military relations have been For instance, the provisions, which penalize enmity between groups

7 Ibid of Law)3, no. 2 (1996): 41; Sandra Coliver, 8 William Saletan, “Hate-speech “striking a balance: Hate speech, freedom hypocrites: How can we ban hate speech of expression and non-discrimination,” against Jews while not Muslims?,” Slate, Human Rights Center, University of September 28, 2012. Sussex, 9 Natan Lerner, “Is there a right to hate https://www.article19.org/data/files/p speech,” The Human Rights Brief (The dfs/publications/striking-a-balance.pdf Center for Human Rights and (accessed August 18, 2015). Humanitarian Law, Washington College

Comprehensive review of NAP

(like 153-A of PPC, as discussed) and everyone, irrespective of their those that criminalize blasphemy backgrounds. (295 and 298 of PPC) sometimes go together, but at other instances, Progress under NAP collide with each other. The speeches and sermons of a section of religious Implementation mechanism leaders against other religious communities, for example, Ahmadis, On December 26th, 2014, two days would be prohibited by Section 153- after NAP was announced, Prime A, on grounds of enmity, but Minister Nawaz Sharif constituted protected by Section 298, on grounds subcommittees for implementing is of blasphemy, and by other freedom different points.10 The same day, the of speech provisions of the subcommittee on “countering hate Constitution. speech and extremist material” was formed and assigned to the interior Additionally, Pakistan’s numerous minister. social fissures, based on religion, sect, ethnicity, political ideology and The committee’s other members social status, thrive on hate speech were ministers of religious affairs, and extremist material. It is the planning and development, friction underlining these fissures information and broadcasting; that ends up producing foot soldiers director generals of Inter-Services whose hatred gradually morphs into Intelligence (ISI) and Intelligence violent extremism and, in extreme Bureau (IB); Managing Director of cases, to terrorism. Pakistan Television; all provincial Home Secretaries; Secretaries of In such a situation, countering hate provincial Auqaf Departments; speech might not be too easy, or even National Coordinator of NACTA; practical, at times. Touching the and Secretary of Interior Division.11 historical sectarian baggage might prove to be a hornet’s nest, for This committee was tasked to furnish instance. recommendations within the next three days, that is, by December 29th, That said, such limitations do not 2015. The deadline was perhaps stop the governments from enforcing missed. That is why the committee the basic principles of a pluralist – if was tasked to come up with a not secular – society, one that truly comprehensive strategy by January appreciates rights and freedom of 15th, 2015.12 Again, the Ministry failed

10 “PM finalizes panel for ensuring 11 Ibid. implementation of National Action 12“Govt combating terror – one meeting Plan,” Express Tribune, December 27, at a time,” Pakistan Today, December 31, 2014. 2014.

Hate speech and restricted speech: striking a balance to meet the deadline.13 Whether or mouthed sectarian leaders stay not the strategy was submitted at all untouched. is unclear. At least publicly, no material was released. Most of the arrests have been made for misusing loud speakers or sound Strategy amplifiers, under a 1965 law regulating their usage.17 The The government’s strategy of administration has reportedly combating hate speech/extremist clamped down on public use of material can be deduced from the loudspeakers albeit selectively. periodic reviews the ministry According to the January report, submitted to the Prime Minister after 1,100 people were arrested for every few months. misusing loudspeakers.18 Many non- hate-speakers were also arrested for That strategy involves two-pronged violating the law. For example, the measures: regulating public order recent arrests in Islamabad were and checking systemic dissemination made on loudspeaker violations of hate material. when human rights defenders protested the demolition of an Many hate speakers have been informal settlement in I-11 sector of arrested and shops closed, according Islamabad. to government circles. By mid- January, for instance, 251 people In an exclusive interview with the were arrested for hate speech, rising author, a senior member of ruling to 1,799 by the end of July, PML-N Sheikh Waqas Akram, who government’s progress reports in has been at the forefront in snubbing those two months show.141516 sectarian terrorist outfits in his own constituency in district Jhang, Numbers, however, could be discussed other angles of these deceptive. Despite the overdrive to arrests.19 Shia and Barelvis, he arrest hate speakers, the loud- observed, have been main targets of the arrests for violating act related to loudspeaker usage. He detangles this

13 “Govt misses four deadlines set for 17“Regulation and Control of Loud NAP,” Pakistan Today, January 25, 2015. Speakers and Sound Amplifiers 14 “251 arrested for hate speech, NAP Ordinance 1965. meeting informed,” Dawn, January 14, 18 “251 arrested for hate speech, NAP 2015. meeting informed,” Dawn, January 14, 15 Ibid. 2015. 16 “Over 20,000 terrorists killed after NAP 19Author’s interview with Sheikh Waqas implementation,” Geo TV (website), July Akram. 30, 2015.

Comprehensive review of NAP trend as the weakness of law- sectarian lines. Yet, the state doesn’t enforcing agencies (LEA) to carry out seem to be taking on against them. an all-out campaign against the more And they continue with their hatred. powerful mosques being run by the takfiri schools of thought, who are Overall, there is little scrutiny of the main culprits of hate-speech against entire process of NAP, including on other sects and religions. The LEAs hate speech/extremist material, by try, Mr. Waqas said, to balance the the citizens and parliament. small number of the arrests of real problem makers by arresting the Immunization campaign - clerics of other sects, who are largely needed the victims of the hate campaigns run by the aggressive elements of The government’s strategy of puritanical Deobandi clerics. fighting hate speech/extremist material can be classified as Mechanism for identifying and “restrictive” in nature, one of the two curbing by taking appropriate approaches of countering hate punitive measures on hate speech.20 This approach mainly speech/extremist material in digital targets the hate-speaker, the realm, too, has not been developed so materials and the means of far. There isn’t even a proper dissemination of those materials. platform to which people can file complaints and seek redress. The This approach has its costs too, as it government has rather been can end up tramping the right to free emphasizing too much on curbing speech and freedom of expression as and censoring speech. Even a explained above under the section, controversial cybercrime law is being ‘Drawing Line’. Some critics even proposed, to the resistance of warn that this approach has the opposition parties and rights potential of pitching the activists. governments against the citizens if people’s right to dissent is violated. Another missing aspect is a clear In such cases, the governments may stance against the hate-mongering find themselves at an adversarial pulpit. A certain section of mosque position with their citizens. Killing elite relay hate during religiously- the dissent is dangerous for the ordained days. Friday is one of them, societies infested with radicalisation when sermons before collective and hate-speech otherwise too, prayer are deliberately titled along

20“Countering dangerous speech, Interdisciplinary Seminar), protecting free speech: practical http://www.ushmm.org/m/pdfs/2015 strategies to prevent genocide” (Report of 0512-sudikoff-report.pdf (accessed the 2014 Sudikoff Annual August 18, 2015).

Hate speech and restricted speech: striking a balance because it is one strong tool against against the opponents. This would the prevalent hate-speech.21 water down their otherwise fiery and offensive speeches during political There is another approach too, the rallies and religious congregations in non-restrictive one, which reaches addition to neutralising the existing out to the audience of hate speech by incentive to misuse the blasphemy preventing them from being laws. receptive to the speech. Under this approach, the state undertakes One innovative measure under non- rigorous ‘immunisation’ of the restive approach could be a ‘Hate populace against hate Speech Immunisation Program’ messages.22Non-restrictive method is across the country. This program, akin to polio immunisation while working through different campaign. Even though the polio platforms, should follow Zero- virus stays around, the people turn Tolerance policy for stereotypes and resistant to it. biased description of or attitude towards different religious, sectarian, The most suitable course of action ethnic communities and women. would be to follow a careful mix of Programs like this are usually aimed both approaches – restrict and non- at increasing people’s resistance to restrictive – without snatching any the hate-speech by mainly three rights from the people that the broad measures. These include; (1) Constitution of Islamic Republic of reforming educational system that Pakistan has guaranteed. focuses inculcating habits of critical thinking and healthy scepticism This careful mixture of both among the pupils; (2) enabling the approaches might involve some populace to empathise for the degree of regulation for the religious vulnerable communities and groups sermons and speeches as well as as well as adopting and propagating standardisation of madrassa pluralist values; (3) encouraging and curriculum. Although it is against inspiring the citizens to speak out on secular ideals that the state injustices and voice dissent intervenes in the affairs related to whenever they have to. religion, it nevertheless could be followed dispassionately for Under such a program, teachers of all checking inter and intra religious educational levels, especially at the hate-speech. primary level and in madrassa, may be engaged on de-radicalisation and Strong libel laws can be one measure anti-hate-speech training programs. for restricting political and religious Moreover, mega programs using leaders from accusatory hate speech film, TV, radio, social media,

21Ibid. 22 Ibid

Comprehensive review of NAP newspapers and other non- Of course, the state must not make conventional media should be use of radical ideologies, prejudiced launched, to ‘inoculate’ the populace messages and hate speech and strong resistance against all kinds of materials for its own strategic ends. messages based on hate and This might serve some short-term prejudice. Likewise, curriculum of interests but in medium to long term, regular educational institutions it proves lethal for the country needs to be thoroughly reviewed and revised in consultation and . collaboration with progressive sections of civil society.

Comprehensive review of NAP

Terrorism financing

Safiya Aftab

 Safiya Aftab is an Islamabad-based researcher and development professional, covering issues related to economics, governance and political economy. She has graduate degrees in economics and public administration.

akistan’s counter terrorism (CT) Terrorism in Pakistan is often P efforts often revolve around believed to be financed mainly intelligence gathering, followed by through the proceeds of crime such policing, and, in many cases, as bank robberies, kidnapping for undercover intelligence-led ransom, smuggling of timber and operations. These are no doubt antiquities, dealing in opium and integral CT components. But for heroin, and relatively minor offences counter-terror efforts to be effective like extortion. Besides, funds are also in the longer term, the approach channelled to extremist organisations should be multipronged, also in the name of charity. focusing on funding of terrorist activities. Not all proceeds of crime fund terrorism, and similarly, terrorism is An important CT activity, therefore, financed by other means also. is denting the militant economy, Controlling crime would help choke through all possible ways: tracing the terrorism financing somewhat – but financial mechanisms of funding not completely. However, there will used by militants, neutralizing those be overlaps between criminal sources, and preventing banned networks and terrorist networks, and outfits from raising funds crackdowns on both are required. domestically or internationally. An understanding of the sources and This element has received relatively estimates of terrorism financing in little attention in Pakistan, for a Pakistan requires understanding of variety of reasons like general lack of the size of illegal economy in expertise in financial crime, and lack Pakistan. Again, literature on that of appreciation of the intricacies of subject is limited. the militant economy. The UN Office of Drugs and Crime As of now, there is little public (UNODC), in a comprehensive information on what is actually being report on non-bank based done to clamp down on terrorism transactions in Pakistan, briefly financing by the government.

Uncertain estimates

The magnitude of funds generated for terrorism is highly uncertain, and there is little information on the shares of different forms of funding in the total.

Comprehensive review of NAP discusses how the proceeds of crime through Informal Value Transfer are routed through such systems.1 Systems (IVTSs) or non-bank based transactions. Another study, by a Pakistani think- tank Sustainable Development Policy Initially the authorities were Institute (SDPI), tried to estimate reluctant to impose stringent controls earnings in Pakistan from crime, on informal systems of money mainly drug trade, migrant transfer, as the bulk of usage of such smuggling, and kidnapping for systems was thought to lie with ransom.2 An exact linkage between unskilled or semi-skilled overseas crime earnings and terrorist workers who use the systems to send money to families in small towns, financing is, however, missing. Yet another recent paper alludes toward villages, and other remote areas of smuggling of heroin, opium, and the country which are not serviced by formal financial institutions. The ease cannabis; again, the study suggests that these might be financing of use of such systems (which do not require extensive paperwork, and are terrorism.3 highly responsive to the requirements of users) made them a When it comes to the geographical natural choice for the low-skilled sources of terrorism, a significant diaspora. In addition, the systems are share of the financing of terrorism in known to be in the use of small scale Pakistan is also thought to emanate traders, who use them to settle from overseas, either in the form of accounts with overseas counterparts. donations to “charitable” organizations which are believed to Although illegal, the use of IVTSs for divert funds to militant groups, or such transactions is difficult to through direct donations to such control in a country where only about groups. 14 per cent of adults have access to a formal financial institution (WB Targeting IVTS 2009).

Over the last decade, Pakistan has Many of those sending money been under increasing pressure from through IVTS may not have much to the international community to crack do with terrorism financing. down on the transfer of funds Nevertheless, the need to check the

1 “Hawala and Hundi in Pakistan: study of Pakistan in the region Development and Justice Approaches,” (Islamabad: SDPI, 2011). December 2009. 3 Safiya Aftab, “Post 2014: The Regional 2SDPI, Examining the dimensions, scale Drug Economy and Its Implications for and dynamics of the illegal economy: a Pakistan,” Barcelona Center for International Affairs, February 2014.

Terrorism financing more pernicious uses of IVTSs, Convention in June 2009, with some particularly to the extent that these conditions. systems are used to transmit the proceeds of crime, remains very While Resolution 1373 was specific to much an issue. Al-Qaeda and the Afghan Taliban, a later resolution, number 1566, While monitoring IVTSs is adopted in October 2004, defined recommended, the proceeds of crime terrorism more clearly as “criminal are also often transmitted by acts” committed to, among other manipulating international things, “provoke a state of terror in commercial transactions. The best the general public”.4Following this, criminal minds use formal systems the UN states are in the process of for illegal activity. For instance, licit negotiating a Comprehensive trade through registered businesses Convention on International is mixed with illicit transactions to Terrorism. create some form of a paper trail and obscure the source of funds. As the international community’s focus on terrorism increased, and Tracing such deals requires Pakistan’s own security situation sophisticated data analysis and close continued to worsen post 2002, the monitoring of trade and payment government responded by setting up systems – skills which are in short a regulatory and institutional supply. framework to check money laundering and terrorist financing. Zero conviction The key legislation to this end is the Post-9/11, states were under Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Act increasing pressure to check of 2010, which created the terrorism and the flow of funds to institutional structure and provided militant groups. The Security Council the legislative basis for monitoring Resolution 1373, adopted financial systems to detect money unanimously on September 28th, laundering and prosecute offenders. 2001, requires all member states to The definition of money laundering prepare or amend laws to criminalize is narrow, bringing into net someone terrorist acts and ratify the then who sells and purchases property existing international conventions on developed from criminal earnings, terrorism, including the 1999 conceals its owner, or holds it for International Convention for the someone. Suppression of Financing of Terrorism. Pakistan acceded to this

4 United Nations S/RES/1566 (2004) October 2004 04-54282 (E) *0454282* Security Council Distr.: General 8 Resolution 1566 (2004).

Comprehensive review of NAP

Clearly, the Act largely focuses on the last year, in the wake of the Peshawar unregulated real estate market, attack. which often thrives on criminal proceeds. But the Act does not define money laundering in broader terms. For one, it does not review terrorism at all. Preventing money laundering, instead of combating terrorism is the primary mandate of AML-related authorities. If the regulation is able to stem terrorist financing, it is an added bonus, not the main objective.

It was this Act that established the Financial Monitoring Unit (FMU) at the State Bank to counter money launderers and terrorism financiers. To do so, the FMU has been asked to specify procedures for financial transactions and report authorities about suspicious transactions. However, the FMU doesn’t have the authority to take action against offenders. It is required to forward information to investigation agencies such as the Federal Investigation Agency, to investigate and prosecute the offenders.

Another important legislation, the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997, amended in 2013, criminalizes handling of terrorist property, due to which terrorist financing like funds transfer can be dealt with in the Anti- Terrorism Court.

Despite these measures, there have been few convictions for money laundering, and none for terrorist financing in Pakistan. The situation has hardly changed ever since the National Action Plan was announced

Terrorism financing

Instead, Pakistan continues to appear on an international list of those countries that are required to do more to regulate money laundering and terrorist financing. The list is prepared by the inter-government Financial Action Task Force, which tracks countries on their obligations to fulfil international requirements on regulating money laundering and terror funding.

As of now, the government’s steps on choking terror financing have far from advanced. Most of the activity has consisted of banning certain groups and freezing their accounts.

These measures are, however, are not enough.

As a starting point, the government needs to understand how the ongoing militancy in the country is being financed. Such investigation requires significant investment of time and resources, including training and hiring of qualified personnel.

Comprehensive review of NAP

Stopping the banned groups

Mehwish Rani

 Mehwish Rani is M.Phil in Psychology and an independent research analyst in the field of countering violent extremism.

hile the NAP lays down a people found collecting funds for W comprehensive framework for Jaish-e-Muhammad and Al-Rehmat combating the entire spectrum of the Trust, and confiscated ‘jihadi’ terrorist threat in Pakistan, its literature and receipt books.1 seventh point calls for taking steps against “re-emergence of banned Reports of arrest often trickle in militant organizations.” media. For instance, in July 2015, 13 persons were reportedly arrested in Clampdown Punjab for collecting donations for banned outfits.2 Almost immediately after NAP was released in January, a spurt of The government insists it arrested a activity followed. Sub committees large number of supporters of headed by federal ministers to banned outfits, recovered their monitor each point of the plan, were printed material, and disrupted their set up, though nothing has been sources of funding. According to the heard about them afterwards. On ministry of interior statement January 16th, 2015, interior minister submitted to the Supreme Court on clarified government’s intention of fourth July, a total of 60,420 choking the funding sources of individuals had been arrested in banned outfits along with acting 54,376 search operations, under against their propagation of hate NAP. 3 ideology. These, it was meant, would prevent re-emergence of banned But overall, the government has so organizations. far been reluctant to share consolidated countrywide figures on In the first couple of months after the the action taken against the banned NAP was announced, provincial outfits. As of today, little is known police carried out a number of raids about all those arrested. Were they against those disseminating, selling convicted, or as in most criminal or printing material of the banned cases, acquitted? This further dilutes groups. Reportedly, some of their the impact of the whole effort against members collecting funds were also banned organizations. arrested. For instance, a report submitted by Additional Advocate Although there is a need to have such General of Punjab stated that an action on a sustained basis, one Punjab’s Counter-Terrorism rarely hears about such raids these Department had arrested a gang of 12 days. The clampdown, however,

1Nasir Iqbal, “Banned outfits collecting 3“Ministry to submit NAP report to apex funds booked, Punjab tells SC,” Dawn, court,” Dawn, July 5, 2015. July 30, 2015. 2Dawn, Islamabad, July 5, 2015.

Comprehensive review of NAP didn’t go beyond a couple of months implementation of the ban by a after NAP. dedicated body of terrorism experts.

The effectiveness of the arrests the United Kingdom and the United government claims is yet to be States also maintain similar lists, of evaluated. Some banned outfits, like banned organizations and specified the Ahl-e-Sunnat Wal Jamaat, despite individuals of these organizations, arrests, still carry out public meetings including those the UNSC has and protest demonstrations. These already banned. Both countries also contradictions make people perceive have specified bodies to monitor as if the arrests were more for implementation of these bans. appearing to be doing something rather than effectively deterring Like other countries, Pakistan also members of banned militant outfits. maintains its own list. Moreover, Pakistan is legally bound to follow Proscribing organizations the resolution. Theoretically, therefore, Pakistan is bound to follow M0dern-day terrorism generally action on groups mentioned in the involves group work. Individuals, UN’s list as well as the country’s own who carry out terrorist acts, like list. suicide bombing, are part of organizations, which plot those acts. Inside the country, Anti-Terrorism Even the “lone wolf” attackers draw Act (ATA) provides the legal inspiration, and sometimes attack framework for proscribing terrorist plan, from organizations they follow. organizations as well as preventing Organizations sponsor violence: their re-emergence in any form. identify enemies, recruit individuals, train them, equip them, chart attacks, Two of its clauses are worth noting: and claim those attacks. Section 11-B of the ATA empowers the government to proscribe an Hitting at terror outfits would organization involved in terrorism. therefore be essential in any counter- And Section 11-EE, inserted in 2013, terror strategy. states that if office bearers of any banned outfit form a new outfit The UN Security Council Resolution under a different government, the 1267 provides for banning militant federal government may, upon entities and militant leaders, suspicion, of their involvement in supporting Al Qaeda and Taliban. terrorist activities, proscribe the new UN’s ban procedure has two outfit as well. Thus, banning a dimensions: it maintains lists of reincarnated outfit requires less banned entities as well as their evidence than an outfit for the first leaders, and it monitors time.

Stopping the banned groups

Once an organization is banned, its were being established for all the infrastructure is to be sealed, proscribed organizations so that activities prohibited, and members to “their resurgence secretly or under be monitored. Thus, a banned outfit different names could be shut will be unable to, say, open bank down”.4Outfits once banned change account, or publish material, or hold their name to continue operation, as public meetings. discussed elsewhere in this essay. Yet, until now, nothing is heard of the People associated with the banned database. groups are automatically enlisted under the Fourth Schedule of the Rather strikingly, the government ATA. Such persons cannot move or hasn’t even released list of banned act around easily and they are outfits. Not that the list doesn’t exist; supposed to fill with the police bail it was rather taken off from the bonds for good behaviour. NACTA website in January 2015, almost a month after the On ground, however, these announcement of NAP, which is constraints on members of banned supposed to fight terrorism.5 How organizations are not enforced can a government reluctant to strictly by the respective police publicly share the list of proscribed forces. Interviews with police officers organizations, be expected to revealed that in a significant number seriously implement the ban? of cases, the persons on the list have not provided the bail bonds for good The public cannot be expected to stay behaviour as required. away from a group they are not sure is among the banned ones. Once the Because policing is a provincial list is shared, many will turn away subject, each province maintains its from those on it. At the same time, own list of Fourth Schedulers. The more hard evidence may be publicly provincial lists of those on Fourth shared to enhance the legitimacy of Schedule be consolidate into one the ban in the eyes of the public. national list, regularly updated and be shared with all stakeholders to The interior ministry, responsible for implement the constraints imposed enforcing ATA, in assistance from by the ATA. federal intelligence agencies, is expected to maintain lists of office After the NAP was announced, the bearers of banned organizations and interior minister stated that a share them with relevant subordinate databank and monitoring network department like arms-issuing

4 “Nisar orders blocking of bank accounts 5 “NACTA removes list of banned outfits linked to banned organizations,” Dawn, from website,” The Nation, January 25, Jan 16,2015. 2015.

Comprehensive review of NAP authorities, passport office, and under the Anti-Terrorism Act.6 Yet, immigration department; and other even after being banned, these outfits relevant institutes like ministry of carry out with their activities, finance and State Bank of Pakistan. according to a widespread This way, the ministry can bar active perception among security analysts members of banned outfits from and ground reports of journalists. traveling, deny them passports, revoke their arms, and withdraw Some groups changed their names, them financial services. continuing with the same agenda. For instance, a year after Sipah-e- Provincial police departments are Sahaba Pakistan was banned in 2002, supposed to monitor the day-to-day the group changed its name to Millat- activities of the members of the e-Islamia. proscribed organizations and to take legal action when necessary. Two, outfits continue to operate with Similarly, the provincial home the old name, in a clandestine departments are supposed to cancel manner; such as Sipah-e-Sahaba aka the arms licenses issued to the Ahl-e-Sunnat Wal Jamaat and Jaish- members of proscribed organizations e-Muhammad aka Khudaam e Islam. and ask them to deposit their weapons in the police stations. Ahl-e-Sunnat Wal Jamaat, continues Again, having a widely-distributed to operate, often in public limelight, list is must for these departments, despite being banned in 2012. 7ASWJ like local policemen, to know whom is considered to be a reincarnate of to follow and whom to leave. SSP.

“Re-emergence” Above all, some internationally proscribed organizations operate in Key issues dealing with banned Pakistan where they are not banned. outfits in Pakistan have as much to The most pertinent cases are those of do with banning them as ensuring two charities, Jamaat-ud-Dawa and they are not revived. That is why, Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation. NAP in specific asks for stopping the According to the United Nations, “re-emergence” of banned outfits. which has banned the two groups, they are charity fronts of the militant In 2013, the government claims to Lashkar-e-Taiba, already declared have banned sixty organizations terrorist outfit in 2005.8 But Pakistani

6This list was mentioned in National 8 Details can be seen at: Internal Security Policy, a counter-terror http://www.un.org/sc/committees/12 policy released in 2013. 67/1267.pdf. 7 Ministry of Interior, National Internal Security Plan(Islamabad: 2013), p. 57.

Stopping the banned groups officials disagree. While LeT has been Tahrir, members of which banned since 2002 in Pakistan, the disseminate their leaflets in the two charity fronts are among the capital Islamabad, and Ahl-e-Sunnat “watch list” only of the proscribed Wal Jamaat, a sectarian group.10 outfits. Their leaders continue to Moreover, several banned groups make public, even media, publish their newspapers and appearance. magazines on regular basis, including Al-Qalam by Jaish-e- When asked about any possible Muhammad and Khilfat-e-Rashida action on JD or FIF, interior minister by ASWJ. informed the Senate that the ban on them is unlikely.9 Pakistani officials Some banned groups also held argue that because UN did not share processions and demonstrations. In with Pakistan any supporting February 2015, just a month after the evidence establishing JuD as LeT- NAP, the banned ASWJ scheduled a repackaged, they cannot move rally in Karachi. When the civil against the new group. Should society protested against the Pakistan think that the JD and FIF are gathering, the police, instead of unnecessarily blamed, Pakistan can stopping the rally, arrested the take the case to the UN for a review. handful members of civil society.11 Then, on February 15th, ASWJ staged But, Pakistan doesn’t appear to have protests in Islamabad and Karachi, approached the UN on JD and FIF. against the targeted killings of the Pakistan is bound to follow the leaders. Islamabad’s protest was in resolution. Continuous ambiguity in front of the Supreme Court. No this regard will only isolate Pakistan action was taken. Yet again, the from the international effort against group launched another protest, on terrorism. March 5th, Islamabad. This time, they marched from Lal Masjid, site of the The ban on propagation of the 2007 military standoff, to the ideology of banned organization is Parliament House. The protestors nominally effective, if at all. A spot were called off after negotiations check of their web presence revealed with the city’s administration and that at least 20 out of the 60 banned police.12 outfits have vibrant Internet presence. These include Hizb-e-

9 “JuD unlikely to be banned, Nisar tells 11 “Civil society activists briefly held over Senate,” The Nation, July 8, 2015. anti-ASWJ protest,” Pakistan Today, 10 For instance, see the websites: February 5, 2015. http://www.hizb-pakistan.com and 12 “ASWJ ends protest in Islamabad as http://www.tnfj.org.pk. police assures to probe workers killings,” Express Tribune, March 6, 2015.

Comprehensive review of NAP

These expose the weakness of the authorities, immigration authorities, government, putting question marks State Bank of Pakistan and all over credibility in claims of taking commercial banks. action against banned outfits. The lack of an authentic list leads to Comprehensive strategy ambiguity in response of the government as well as the public. A nationwide approach, backed by This confusion should be overcome. political will, is required to keep a The lack of authentic lists of banned check on banned outfits. militant organizations as well as their members, leads to ambiguity in the There is a need to have a proper response of the government as well organization at the federal level to as the public. For ensuring effective monitor the status of the ban prevention of the re-emergence of implementation. One such banned militant organizations organization could be National publicizing these lists is an essential Counter-Terrorism Authority pre-requisite. (NACTA). It should be strengthened.

To choke the funding of banned outfits, the government should educate the people against donating the groups and enhance the capacity of FIA to detect and investigate cases of terrorist financing.

As a first step, the government has to issue an official list of banned organizations, and also share evidence against these organizations or their members, with the public. Moreover, provincial lists of Fourth Schedule should be consolidated into one list, and followed upon. Those on the list should be denied, as per law, issuance of arms licenses, passports, travel abroad and key banking services besides reducing their movement. For this, the lists have to be shared with the arms licenses issuing authorities at the federal and provincial levels, passport-issuing

Comprehensive review of NAP

Establishing a Counter Terrorism Force

Farhan Zahid

 Dr. Farhan Zahid is an expert of counter-terrorism and Islamist militant groups in Pakistan. His book Roots of Islamic Violent Activism in South Asia was published in 2014.

any efforts similar to NAP NISP called for establishing a similar M were made in the past. In May force by the name of “federal rapid 2014, for instance, the National response force”.2 Today, the two Internal Security Policy (NISP) 2014- forces are interchangeably 18 was presented, having many mentioned, given that their shared features similar to the NAP such as: modalities. reforming madrassas, building capacity of security forces, raising Police department occupies a central anti-terrorist force, enhancing stage in Pakistani security layer. coordination among security Policing is a provincial subject in agencies, dealing with Afghan Pakistan, with each province having refugees, and curbing terrorist its separate police. As the country’s financing. But, NISP failed to primary law-enforcement agency, materialize, not only because of police is the first line of defence. paucity of funds or capacity issues Although NAP doesn’t explicitly talk but also because of lack of about police, when compared with consensus.1 the NISP, it is evident that police is accorded prime position in the NAP, too, wasn’t much of a detailed security of the country. and proper counter-terror strategy document. But, what made it unique There are 354,221 police personnel from previous efforts has been its serving throughout the country.3 foundation on political consensus. Additionally, there are several Parties across the board, with the paramilitaries responsible for exception of some Islamists, various special tasks ranging from supported the document. policing the country’s border to stopping smuggling.4 One of the points NAP calls for is raising specialized counter-terrorism If this is the case, why do we need a (CT) force, a befitting response to fill counter-terrorist force? the need of desperate times. Earlier,

1 For a detailed analysis of NISP please 3 Hassan Abbas, “Reforming Pakistan’s see Raza Rumi, “Charting Pakistan’s police and law enforcement Internal Security Policy,” United States Infrastructure: Is it too flawed to Fix?,” Institute of Peace (USIP), United States Institute of Peace (USIP), http://www.usip.org/sites/default/file February 2011. s/SR368-Charting-Pakistans-Internal- 4 For example, Frontier Corps, Sindh Security-Policy.pdf. Rangers, Punjab Rangers, and Levies 2 Text of National Internal Security Policy force. document can be seen at www.nacta.pk.

Comprehensive review of NAP

Answer is simple. A police officer, like clamping down on hate speeches trained to combat crime, may not and monitoring of hate have the requisite skills meant to take makers.7Punjab government initially on terrorists, motivated by ideology established separate Counter-Terror and trained in asymmetric warfare. Departments (CTD) police stations, in Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, and Terrorists are not casual criminals or Rawalpindi, hearing cases of defying smugglers. Law- sectarian violence and terrorism, enforcement officers, therefore, need only. special skill set to investigate terrorist attacks and interrogate suspected Additionally, all police departments terrorists. Terrorism is supposed to in the four provinces and Islamabad be dealt through specialized forces, have, on their own, raised special an offensive counter-terrorist body as forces, under their respective well as a defensive anti-terrorist one.5 counter-terror department. In fact, many countries have raised special police forces with functional Punjab, for instance, has two special specialization for counter- and anti- anti-terrorist forces. terrorist operations.6 The first one is the Elite Police, raised Special forces in Pakistan in 1997 amid growing sectarian threat. The Elite Police was tasked to In Pakistan, some police department handle several anti-terrorism in provinces have counter-terror matters: anti-terrorist operation, anti- department, which have been taking hijacking action, denting at sabotage, on some measures to curb terrorism, close protection to VVIPs; security to

5 Though the terms anti-terrorism and Group-9), France’s Groupe counter terrorism are interchangeably d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie used by practitioners but technically and Nationale GIGN (National Gendarmerie academically speaking are different. We Intervention Group), Israel’s Sayeret may define counter-terrorism as Matkal (General Staff Reconnaissance offensive strategies intended to prevent a Unit), United States’ Hostage Rescue belligerent, in a broader conflict, from Team (HRT) of Federal Bureau of successfully using the tactic of terrorism; Investigations, United Kingdom’s Special and anti-terrorism as defensive Air Service (SAS) and Special Boat [strategies], intended to reduce the Service (SBS) and India’s National chance of an attack using terrorist tactics Security Guards (NSG). at specific points, or to reduce the 7 For details about Fourth Schedule of vulnerability of possible targets to such Anti-Terrorist Act 1997 see section 11EE, tactics. http://www.punjabcode.punjab.gov.pk 6Some of the very successful ones are: /public/dr/THE%20ANTI- Germany’s Grenzschutzgruppe 9 der TERRORISM%20ACT,%201997.doc.pdf BundespolizeiGSG-9 (Border Protection

Establishing a Counter Terrorism Force sensitive government installations. anti-terrorism needs of Sindh police. Officers are selected from regular This highly-trained force of 3000 police force for training at the Elite personnel looks after the security of Police Training School (EPTS), VVIPs, special operations against Lahore. Since 1997, when it was organized crime as well as banned established to mid-2015, a total of outfits in Karachi and rest of Sindh 8,046 police officers have been province. The Shaheed Benazir trained there.8 Bhutto Elite Police Training School, located in the suburbs of Karachi, The other one, Counter-Terrorism provides basic training to the SSU’s Force, is established more recently, in personnel, besides running training 2014, following the release of NISP. wing which builds capacity for Tasked to overcome and dismantle regular police officers.12 terrorism in the province, CTF personnel are trained at the EPTS, Similarly, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Lahore.9 However, they are distinct (KP) set up its new special force unit, from the Elite Police. That is why CTF Counter Terrorism Force (CTF), with personnel are normally called as an initial strength of 2400 police “corporals”, as opposed to officers.13A multifunctioning body, “elite.”10So far, 1500 CTC corporals in the CTF’s mandate also allows it to three batches have passed out, after operate as intelligence-gathering undergoing training by Turkish agency. The force is trained at a police. A total of 300 million rupees special academy in Hangu. The CTF are being spent for those trainings.11 helps regular police in conducting special operations in nearly all Other provinces, too, have districts of KP. established special CT force. Balochistan too has a special anti- Sindh police has established its own terror force by the name of the Anti- elite special force, Special Security Terrorist Force (ATF). The ATF Unit (SSU), in 2010, relatively late currently comprises 900 active-duty than others. The SSU caters to the officers and 11 wings. It assists

8 Official Website of Elite Police Training on Saturday,” Express Tribune, January School: 29, 2015. http://elitepolice.net/aboutus.htm, 12 Official Website of Special Security accessed on 16/6/2015. Unit: 9 “1500 corporals get in Anti-Terrorism http://www.ssusindhpolice.gos.pk/car Force,” The Nation, April 1, 2014. eers.htm. 10“Provincial police force: CTD corporals 13Javed Aziz Khan, “KP sets up special to begin training next week,” Express anti-terrorist force,” The News Tribune, May 1, 2014. International, November 19, 2013. 11 Hassan Naqvi, “Counter Terrorism Force: First batch of corporals to pass out

Comprehensive review of NAP regular police in launching operation coordinate with military and civilian against the militants, maintaining intelligence gathering bodies and law and order situations, ensuring counter-terror wings of security security of foreign delegates and agencies.17 VVIPS, and protecting the high security zones in Quetta. However, So far, however, no concrete step has there is no training facility in been taken to that end. Apparently, Balochistan for the ATF. Instead, its the government struggles to find officers are sent to Islamabad’s Anti- funds for the proposed force. Terrorist Training School or Lahore’s Elite Police Training School. The last Analysis and discussion batch of ATF officers even received one-month extra training at the Currently the federal government Divisional Battle School of Pakistan has directed provincial governments Army in Quetta, in February 201514. to implement the NAP agenda and the provincial police forces have There are several forces with special taken some serious initiatives. The functional areas, too. For instance, in issue of better coordination is 2002, Special Investigations Group between federal and provincial (SIG) was created at the Federal governments, is another major issues Investigations Agency (FIA) to as the provinces may be expecting investigate cases of terrorism, bank grants and aid packages from frauds, and forgeries, and to trace Islamabad. informal money transaction.15 Combating terrorism is expensive, However, all these forces apparently exhaustive and required national will lack coordination of their anti- but indeed there are plenty of success terrorist efforts. That is why, NAP stories and Pakistani policy makers clearly called for setting up a federal may learn by studying and counter-terrorism force.16 evaluating different models and alter their needs accordingly. A concrete According to preliminary details, the counter terrorism strategy paper is 5000 strong force will work under the the need of the hour in order to federal ministry of defence and provide a clear roadmap and policy deployed in all provinces. Dedicated to fight terrorism, the force would

14 Syed Ali Shah, “PM, COAS attend 16 Mateen Haider, “Nawaz constitutes passing-out parade of ATF in Quetta,” special committee to implement National Dawn, February 19, 2015. Action Plan,” Dawn, December 26, 2014. 15Ismail Khan, “Pakistan to raise new 17“Pakistan to set up counter-terrorism anti-terrorism force,” Dawn, August 21, force to check funding of to militants,” 2003. The Indian Express, December 26, 2014.

Establishing a Counter Terrorism Force directive for provinces and law The Peruvian experience of tackling enforcement mechanisms. Shining Path could be taken as a poor man’s effort to counter the menace of There may be other ways to learn terrorism. Pakistan, equally poor in from other experienced nations resources and dealing with a having sufficient experience of plethora of terrorist groups could raising Special Forces such as take a leaf out of Peru’s book to Algeria, UK, Israel, Turkey, Peru, Sri minimize the level of terrorist threats. Lanka, Italy, France and Germany. Peru’s counter terrorism experience is affordable and manageable. Pakistani security forces could Pakistani policy makers may study benefit from Algerian security forces’ and evaluate Peruvian measures and experience in dealing with the carefully apply some of those in Islamist terrorist organizations. The Pakistan. In Peru, the government Algerians had been on offensive employed concrete counter terrorism against the Islamist terrorists and policy measures in order to reverse have managed to defeat them. Their the momentum of Shining Path, the modus operandi could be studied main primary terrorist group in and evaluated by Pakistani officers in action. Emergency was declared by strategizing a counter terrorism the parliament. National Intelligence model applicable to our situation. Service was empowered and Extreme repressive measures were overhauled, whereas police was taken by Algerian military and police tasked to tackle terrorism in urban to root out GIA, these measures areas and military in rural areas. To included targeted killings of GIA protect villages from the onslaught of sympathizers, donors, added with vengeful Shining Path militants disappearances of hundreds of GIA Committees of Self Defense were militants. Black sites were established across Peru. Some harsh established to detain and torture GIA and controversial measures were suspects. Algerian government also indeed taken by the Peruvian successfully exposed the jihadi military by destroying villages excesses and vices through mass sympathetic to the cause of Shining media. In the final phase of war the Path. Algerian government declared amnesty in case of unconditional Pakistan, despite its long-standing surrender. The amnesty scheme was moral and diplomatic support to part of Charter of Peace and National Palestinian cause, may attempt to Reconciliation. Many of the remnants learn some highly successful features of GIA immediately took advantage of Israeli counter terrorism policies. and surrendered before the Israel has managed to defeat a variety authorities. of organizations working against the interests of the state, within its borders. Pakistani policy makers, if

Comprehensive review of NAP not replicate all of Israeli CT policies, may endeavor to adopt some in order to root out the menace of terrorism in which more than 55,000 Pakistanis have lost their lives.

Comprehensive review of NAP

Registration of madrassas and NAP

Mujtaba Rathore

 Mujtaba Rathore is a professionally-qualified lawyer and author of an Urdu book on jihad. He also completed Dars-e-Nizami from Jamia Nizamia Lahore and Fazil Arabi from Jamia Muhammadia Ghosia Bhera.

ince the National Action Plan guiding on religious matters. The S (NAP) was put in place, the major concern on them is about their progress on one of its points, about alleged role in spreading extremism registration and regulation of and sectarianism; some are accused madrassas, seems to be far from of supporting and/or being involved satisfactory. in militancy in the country.

A deadlock has set in between the The National Action Plan formulated government and madrassa to combat militancy and extremism authorities; both have failed to sort also proposed registering and out the procedure for stepping regulating madrassas, so as to crack ahead. Although some action has down on those madrassas which are been taken against the suspected suspected of supporting or seminaries in Sindh and Punjab promoting militancy. Moreover, provinces, the government is facing sectarian culture in the madrassas resistance from the country’s biggest will be eliminated by gradually network of seminaries, Wafaqul bringing them into the mainstream Madaaris Al-Arabia. education sector.

Certainly, registering and regulating Madrassas in Pakistan generally madrassas are key planks of affiliate with one of the five wafaqs – countering militancy. Religious private religious educational boards seminaries are accused of promoting governed by religious elite–reflecting sectarianism and extremism in their school of thought. In addition, society, and some are even involved they are supposed to register with the in violence in the country. government. Yet, not all madrassas Registering them now will help associate with the board (wafaq) are distinct between those serving the registered with the government and cause of religion and those abetting there are a number of others and siding with terrorists. madrassas which are neither registered with these five board nor The government and concerned the government. authorities should handle the matter amicably and sensibly by keeping the Ever since NAP has been launched, religious scholars and madrassa religious seminaries have come authorities on board. under greater surveillance. Intelligence and law enforcement Ground reality agencies are investigating unregistered seminaries and their Madrassas play an important role in links with terrorist activities, across Pakistan, a Muslim-majority state, by the country. providing religious education, producing religious scholars, and

Comprehensive review of NAP

Sindh government has identified at presence of about 145 “highly- least 48 madrassas in the province sensitive” seminaries in KP.5 having links with banned organizations; half of these The total number of unregistered seminaries operate in Karachi. In a madrassas in Balochistan is 266.6 meeting of the apex committee, Inspector General Sindh Police The revealed facts and figures clearly informed that there are as many as demonstrate the significance of 9,590 seminaries reported in the registration of seminaries, but the province, that 6,503 of them are government seems confused on what registered and 3,087un-registered, they want to achieve through the and that 167 have been sealed for NAP’s relevant clause. violating law.1 Few steps towards the When it comes to Punjab, according initiative to a list submitted by the Punjab government to the Supreme Court, The apex committees, or the bodies there are 13,782 madrassas in Punjab; which monitor the implementation of of these, 6,479 are unregistered while NAP at provincial level, are silent 2 7,303 are registered. Other reports about the progress on registration revealed the presence of 147 foreign- and regulation of madrassas.7 Only 3 funded seminaries in Punjab. few steps have been taken so far, which include one-time preparation As of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, official of registration form for madrassas, a sources in the ministries of interior few search operations in seminaries, and religious affairs revealed to the and random identifications of media that the most unregistered unregistered madrassas. madrassas are in KP, at 4,135.4 Another report mentioned the

1 “CM House meeting: 50 madrassas in 5 Ali Akbar, “145 KP seminaries classified Sindh linked with banned outfits,” 'highly sensitive' in govt reports,” Dawn, Express Tribune,” August 6, 2015. March 2, 2015. 2 “Number crunching: Nearly half of 6 Zahid Gishkori,“Uniform standards: Punjab’s seminaries are unregistered,” Most unregistered Madaris in K-P, says Express Tribune,” August 3, 2015. officials,” 3 Irfan Haider, “IGP report reveals 147 7 The apex committees consisting of both foreign-funded seminaries in Punjab,” military and political leadership have Dawn, March 4, 2015. been formed in all provinces to 4 Zahid Gishkori, “Uniform standards: coordinate the security matters and to Most unregistered Madaris in K-P, says implement the National Action Plan. officials,” Express Tribune, January 18, 2015.

Registration of madrassas and NAP

On madrassa registration, the the authorities are only aiming to meetings between government and approach those madrassas which are madrassa authorities failed in the not associated with any board. This very beginning, when madrassa way, they will register with the authorities rejected the new government automatically. registration form. Still, the religious affairs department continues to be in Meanwhile, the federal government contact with madrassa authorities to is also planning to constitute an work out a middle path. Islamic Education Commission (IEC) to regulate religious seminaries. Minister for religious affairs said that According to the plan, the IEC will his ministry was focused on help government regulate the reforming the religious sector, educational structure in all these streamlining madrassa registration seminaries.10 and facilitating the seminaries.8 In the first step, the federal ministry for Furthermore, the provincial religious affairs and the new governments are taking steps for management of the Pakistan registering madrassas, but it is Madrassa Education Board (PMEB), difficult until the proper mechanism formed in 2001 by the Musharraf is launched at central level. government to modernize traditional seminaries and root out extremism, For example, Sindh government are making efforts to affiliate decided to coordinate with the madrassas with the board, after a gap religious scholars of all schools of of several years. thought to get all madrassas registered under the amended laws Across the country, there are about in the province, according to which 8,000 to 10,000 independent no new seminary will be established seminaries not linked with any of without obtaining a No Objection board (wifaq). The PMEB plans to get Certificate (NOC) from the these seminaries affiliated with the concerned deputy commissioner and state-run board, thereby helping home department as well as Sindh them to use the government syllabus Building Control Authority (SBCA). as well as taking their examinations In a recent apex committee meeting, and seeking vocational it was decided to ensure the training.9Chairman PMEB said that gathering of comprehensive details

8 Ashraf Malkham, “Madrassa reform 10 Noor Aftab, “Commission to regulate continues to be ignored,” The News, May religious seminaries soon,” The News, 5, 2015. June 22, 2015. 9Zai Ur Rehman, “Fresh efforts being made to affiliate madrassas with PMEB,” The News, June 26, 2015.

Comprehensive review of NAP about the madrassas in the province enrolled with the seminaries in the in accordance with the queries province whose visas have expired. highlighted in recently prepared The number of foreign students with Performa by the Sindh government. valid visas and who are enrolled with seminaries in the province is said to According to an official of Sindh be in excess of 400.12 government, provincial authorities have sought the guidelines from the Following NAP, the Sindh federal government for registration government has initiated the search of madrassas and even operations in the seminaries that recommended some amendments to spread extremism. Police and the process of registration of Rangers raided several unregistered madrassas, but they are still waiting seminaries in Sukkur, seizing for the response. documents and phones and taking four clerics in custody for further The Punjab government claims it is questioning.13 According to media successfully implementing the reports, the authorities have provisions of the action plan identified over 46 seminaries in regarding the registration of Sindh with alleged links to terror madrassas and their foreign students groups. Of the 46 seminaries, 24 were in the province. The Punjab located in Karachi, 12 in Hyderabad, government shared the figure of four in Larkana and six in Sukkur. registered and unregistered madrassas with the apex court and Similarly, in Punjab province, police declared that the provincial has recently arrested 14 suspects authorities have completed geo- from madrassas in search operations tagging of all registered and in Lahore. The arrested people unregistered seminaries in the belonged to FATA, Quetta and province.11 southern Punjab who are living their without identification. Search According to Punjab government, operations were also conducted in there are 13,782 madrassas in the several religious madrassas of province and the provincial different sects in Multan and Okara government now plans to start districts, and 16 suspects were collecting the geographical data of arrested, besides recovering seminaries. According to data computers and other material. collected by the government, there are around 480 foreign students

11 “Number crunching: Nearly half of 12 Nasir Jamal,”Footprints: Madressahs: Punjab’s seminaries are unregistered,” Still a class apart,” Dawn, July 24, 2015. Express Tribune, August 3, 2015. 13 “Seminaries raided, equipment, records seized,” Dawn, June 15, 2015.

Registration of madrassas and NAP

Success and failure affairs departments. This divides the whole issue. So little progress on the subject articulates the failure of government, Two, the process of registering which hasn’t yet adopted any seminaries couldn’t get complete, implementation mechanism to because of strong resistance from register and regulate the seminaries. madrassa authorities.

When it comes to madrassas, there Madrassa authorities cast doubts are a number of issues, which can be over government’s unilateral neatly addressed by their registration process. The Ittehad Tanzeemat-e- and regulation.14 Madaaris (ITM), the central body of religious educational institutions, The government has rather made the strongly condemned the move as entire issue controversial and “against madrassas and religion”. complex. The matter should be kept The government, on its part, failed to simple by focusing only on the take madrassa authorities into registration of madrassas, possible in confidence, who otherwise are consultation with madrassa willing to implement the registration authorities. process, provided they are informed about it. Alongside the registration process, other issues may resolve out Similarly, madrassa authorities are gradually. The identification of reluctant in allowing law- suspected seminaries will also enforcement agencies to enter any precede further actions. seminary for search operation. Wafaqul Madaaris Al-Arabia The following reasons were behind announced protests countrywide the failure of government to achieve against recent search operations, the NAP points on regulating and calling to stop them immediately.15 registering madrassas: An official of the Wafaq from south One, bureaucratic system continues Punjab complained that to use delay techniques. Based on government’s action against the media reports, the madrassa seminaries reeks of discrimination registration issue is seen by a against one particular sect, warning committee of bureaucrats coming that such actions could pave way for from different departments like fanaticism and sectarianism. He education, interior and religious accused some administrators of

14 Mujtaba Rathore, “Madrassa reforms: 15 “Discontent as raids on seminaries the debate,” Conflict and Peace Studies continue,” Dawn, August 8, 2015. (PIPS)7(1): 25-42.

Comprehensive review of NAP promoting sectarianism by including Conclusion “peaceful and non-sectarian personalities” in the fourth schedule, In the religious society of Pakistan which restricts their movement. where clergy are deeply-respected, it is difficult for any government to Three, in addition to fearing backlash easily overcome their resistance. from seminaries, the government These days, they are opposed to the also seems confused on how to deal initiative of registering and with seminaries at all. regulating seminaries.

Besides the provincial governments, However, a sustained and results- three federal departments are oriented dialogue with them will working on madrassa reforms. These ultimately find a way out towards are religious affairs ministry, that initiative, which will help provincial governments, and interior mainstream the seminaries. All ministry. They lack coordination political and religious groups ought among each other, and seriousness to make that way. too. They are functioning without any coordination on madrassa Instead of ignoring the seminary reforms program. Moreover, a boards, which exercise power among committee tasked to curb religious its affiliates, the government may persecution failed, too. Resultantly, well implement the previous the various departments are unable agreement signed between the to reach any practical result on religious affairs ministry and madrassas. religious scholars.

Four, lack of political will coupled Strong political will is also required with differences within the to deal with the notorious elements in government over how to go about madrassas. Moreover, the sources of madrassas, have resulted into finances to madrassas should be achieving the desired result merely a identified, they should be regulated, pipedream. The government’s efforts and their curricula reorganized for of reforming seminaries, this time, promoting harmony. are no different from the past measures. Its dialogue with In addition, actions against the madrassa authorities is going madrassas involved in terrorism nowhere. Madrassa authorities, on should be taken along a proper the other hand, think the government strategy prepared in consultation has no clear policy on madrassa with religious authorities, thereby reforms. retaining their dignity.

As of the seminaries which are not linked with any terrorist or extremist

Registration of madrassas and NAP group, they could well be made part of counter-narrative against what terrorists and the extremists stand for.

Comprehensive review of NAP

Media as mirror

Azaz Syed

Syed Azaz Hussain Shah is an investigative reporter in Pakistan, who has worked as television and newspaper reporter with leading media groups of Pakistan including the Dawn and Geo.

edia have been a great tool of outfits, which carry out activities in M propaganda for the militants. Afghanistan and Indian-held Militants crave for it, to spread their Kashmir, have well-grounded media ideologies, lure fresh recruits, attract houses which regularly produces more funds, and spread fear. Media documentaries and publishes connect militants with each other and content, glorifying violence in the with their audience – common name of religion. people and policy elites. The government’s approach towards At the time of Cold War, militants such outlets seems to be one of closed advanced their cause through print eyes. To be sure, anti-Pakistan group and radio. With time, other platforms too release their work online. But were exploited, like television and they mostly release their work internet. In the aftermath of the surreptitiously. global war on terror, militants were forced to curtail their presence. Legal homework

In Pakistan, many of those who went Although there are codes against underground made their presence hate speech, no specific legal work is felt through printed or spoken words done to curb glorification of militants in the shape of magazines, journals, on media. webpages, and audio cassettes or compact discs. Their public presence By mid-2015, three of the four exposed state’s resolve in fighting provinces have yet to introduce terror. specific laws countering the spread of militant ideology. Ironically, these Thus, when National Action Plan three provinces are the hardest hit by was announced in December 2015, militancy: Balochistan, Khyber one of the points calls for “banning Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh. glorification of terrorism through print and electronic media”. Ever Punjab is the only province to have since, the government claims to be shown some headway – in terms of implementing the point in “letter and statute. On January 21st, Punjab spirit”. legislature promulgated the amended Punjab Maintenance of But six months later, it appears that Public Order, 2015, which bans the government’s claim smack of a glorification of terrorists and their statement. outfits at any forum and in the media. Violators will be imprisoned for six The old selective policy of ignoring, months and slapped a fine ranging or supporting, some groups and from 25000 to 100,000 rupees. haunting others still lurk in the background. Pro-Pakistan militant

Comprehensive review of NAP

This act clearly reads that a “person by an outfit that is under watch list of shall not, by words spoken or the interior ministry. written, use any formal forum to support terrorism or terrorists, or Or, the case of the defunct Jaish-e- attempt to create sympathy for any Mohammed, which now works terrorist or terrorist organization, or under the name of Al-Rehmat Trust. to oppose action of” different law- The Trust regularly publishes an enforcement agencies. eight-page weekly Al-Qalam from Bahawalpur and Rawalpindi. A After the ordinance was recent edition of Al-Qalam, available promulgated, Punjab government online at a separate portal, projects launched a crackdown against the the role of militants and their hate material. According to an activities inside India.1 interior ministry document, the government, as of July 13th, 2015, has Or even, Khudaam ul Furqan, registered 1776 cases against hate another defunct organization, which speakers, arrested 1799 individuals, operating under the new name of and convicted 236. Meanwhile, only Tehreek-e-Ghalba-e-Islam publishes 71 shops have been sealed and 1512 weekly Ghalba. Another defunct hate material confiscated. It is organization Khudaam ul Furqan unclear as to what constitute one hate working under the new name of material – a book or a pack of books? Tehreek-e-Ghalba-e-Islam is also publishing weekly Ghalba on regular Still publishing … basis.

Several outfits continue to release Incoherent regulation their work, despite NAP and the law in Punjab. When it comes to mainstream media, like TV network or newspaper, the Take the case of Jamaat ud Dawa NAP’s media-specific point is (JUD), a charity front of an anti-India partially implemented. Partially, outfit. The group continues to spew because some see “there is an overall hatred against non-Muslims and positive change” in the attitude of glorify militancy in the name of jihad. media to the discredit of militants.2 JUD’s seven Urdu and English periodicals include Jarrar, Tayyibaat, As to why the ban couldn’t be and Zarb-e-Taiba. It is striking to implemented completely, it is note that the government could not take notice of such content produced

1 Online version of the magazine can be 2 Author’s interview with Matiullah Jan, accessed at: senior journalist and anchorperson based http://www.alqalamonline.com. in Islamabad.

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Media as mirror important to unpack the dynamics of jihadi publications like Zaraar and Al media. Qalam, discussed above. Such is the nexus between the two strands of A media outlet stands on two key publications. pillars: news, which involve day-today reporting; and views, which To several TV anchors, inviting such offer opinion on those reports, in guests is often a tact ensuring editorials or talk shows. security. “The apologists of extremists are invited by anchors When it comes to the news side, print only to ensure that they are on the and electronic media safer side and would not be harmed overwhelmingly played a by the militants”, a senior journalist responsible role in not covering the and television anchor, Matiullah Jan narrative of the militants. The only said. coverage news bulleting and news pages gave to militants was their It is not that media has not been claim of attacks. This was done, only asked to stop propagating militant to inform audience about the message. According to Pakistan militants. Beyond that, mainstream Electronic Media Regulatory media avoided airing and publishing Authority, the country’s electronic the militants’ ‘side’ of the story. media regulatory body,3 it has provided a “list of the defunct In comparison, the pillar of views organizations to the media outlets.” titled towards the militant story too. PEMRA argues that it has issued The editorials in the print as well as almost ten “advisories” to private the primetime talk shows kept networks, asking them to restrain offering a narrative supportive of from projecting sympathizers of militants. These platforms, for militants.4 “They should avoid instance, openly provided space to publicizing their [militants] stories,” those individuals who publicly said Azam Khan, federal information supported the militants’ version. secretary and PEMRA member. Guest list of several prominent talk shows include individuals known for As violations continue, even of sharing a narrow worldview, which PEMRA’s own advisories, the media aligns with that of the militants. The regulatory body watches by. To date, same people also write, either openly no fine has been imposed on any or as ghost writers, in leading channel for inviting militant- newspapers, mostly of Urdu sympathetic people. language. Furthermore, the very same people write as pseudonyms to

3Author’s interview with a representative 4 Ibid. of PEMRA.

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A former chairman of PEMRA, As a way forward, Ministry of Parvaiz Rathore, says that “PEMRA Information or PEMRA should acts according to the law” but immediately start a survey for the “practically paralyzed”. “The media identification of such media houses are very powerful. They have personnel, who side with militants links in every section of society and project their ideologies, and including judiciary. They often take should arrange workshops and our decisions to the court, which seminars for them in sensitizing them grant them stay orders. Thus, we are about the pitfalls of promoting practically paralyzed.”5 militant ideologies. Likewise, PEMRA must start fining the media Ironically, PEMRA itself hasn’t houses involved in violation of the moved against violators. “We will directions on this account. take notice and issue show cause to them, when we observe any violation Of course, this is linked with other of our directions,” says PEMRA gaps – presence of law and thinking spokesman.6 beyond the selective approach.

5Author’s interview with Parvaiz Rathore 6Interview by the author. in Islamabad.

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FATA’s ill-fate

Muhammad Ismail Khan

 Muhammad Ismail Khan works as Project Coordinator at PIPS, where he also edits the Conflict and PeaceStudies.

ne of the points of NAP called with FATA to settle militancy in the O for expediting administrative country. and development reforms in FATA. It was hoped that after the 16th To this end, Pakistan’s traditional December tragedy, those at the helm response has been an all-out of power would come up with operation in the tribal agencies tangible reforms for FATA to crush considered as troublemaker. On June militancy. 15, 2014, Pakistan military launched a military operation in North In more than ten year of war against Waziristan, known as Zarb-e-Azb. terrorism, FATA has been a constant Earlier, Pakistan had launched more reference. Militants of several shades than ten major military operations in established network there, FATA and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, continuing attacks countrywide. starting from 2002. Since 2007, the anti-Pakistan Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) These operations did not prove a operated from there. Like several long-lasting solution to the problem other high profile attacks, the APS of militancy stemming from FATA. attack was carried out by militants Once the operation concluded, the who had made their way from the militants staged their come-back adjoining tribal areas.1 Similarly, after some time, expanding their Afghanistan too has been network with time. The long-term complaining about the presence of sustainability of the current anti-Afghan militants like Haqqani operation, too, needs to be seen. network leaders and their abode in FATA. In 2014, former Director What in fact will contribute to long- General of Inter-Services Press term security and peace in FATA, Release (ISPR) admitted that all sorts particularly after the security of militants had gathered in North operations conclude and military Waziristan. 2 presence is reduced, are the political and administrative reforms. A That is why, security observers have similar point was raised in the NAP, long been pointing towards dealing which calls for expediting

1 Several other attacks owned or carried (Author’s translation), BBC Urdu, June out from FATA include assassination of 30, 2014, Benazir Bhutto and Bashir Bilour, attack http://www.bbc.com/urdu/pakistan/2 on GHQ and PAF airbases. 014/06/140630_waziristan_delay_kayan 2 Asif Faruki, “Kayani hesitated, delayed i_blame_zz.shtml. operation resulting into big loss,”

Comprehensive review of NAP administrative and development All these institutions of modern state reforms in FATA. are necessary to keep some check on the rise of the militants. From Keen observers agree that the policing end, settling for FATA status administrative reforms in FATA is important. Militants from FATA would be instrumental in rooting out have attacked in settled areas, and the deadly militant networks from escaped back, precisely because they there. are out of bounds for the law- enforcement agencies of the settled To date, FATA’s administrative areas. That is why KP police, around structure has been kept distant from the time of APS attack, also wrote to the rest of country. FATA is still ruled the higher authorities to decide about by Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) the status of FATA.4 which denies the people several fundamental rights. Even now, Almost every political party desires under this code, any person can be FATA reforms. The apex courts too arrested for the crime committed by have asked for extending jurisdiction someone of his tribe. of higher courts into FATA.

For all the powers the code delegated Reforming FATA will directly impact to the local administration, it failed in country’s fight against terrorism. The checking the rise of militants, who breeding houses of militants would went on to advance their influence in somewhat come under scrutiny. FATA. Besides this, the tribal belt will attract investment in different social sectors, Similarly, in 2011, the government which too may mitigate conflict in extended Action in Aid of Civil the long term there. Power, which a politician once likened to martial law over FATA.3 The previous government did some Yet, militancy didn’t end, evident efforts at reforming administrative from the rationale given behind the structure of FATA, such as by on-going military operation in North allowing political parties to contest Waziristan. from there and amending the FCR off its most-draconian clauses. However, progress on the latter front is yet to be

3 "The Hands of Cruelty: Abuses By 4 Javed Aziz Khan, "IGP suggests Fata Armed Forces and Taliban In Pakistan’s integration into KP," The News, Tribal Areas", Amnesty International, December 15, 2014, ,page 39, http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays- http://www.amnesty.nl/sites/default/f News-7-290163-IGP-suggests-Fata- iles/public/p4026_end_impunity_in_tri integration-into-KP. bal_areas.pdf

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FATA’s ill-fate seen; as the clauses of collective however, has limited powers. FATA responsibility are invoked even now. lawyers point out that it lacks writ jurisdiction of fundamental human In one of the recent developments, in rights and cannot issue contempt of May 2014, a committee known as the court notices, and invoke suo mottos. FATA Reforms Committee was They are wondering as to what will constituted, to “to frame strategic be status of the tribunal if the political objectives for the volatile tribal areas agent doesn’t agree with its decision. for the next 25 years.”5 After extensive deliberations, the In September 2015, reports circulated Committee released its report.6 that the two northern agencies, Bajaur and Mohmand, might be The report, however, didn’t come up converted into Provincially- with any policy suggestions on the Administered Tribal Areas (PATA), administrative status of FATA. an administrative structure that Unsurprisingly, several FATA comes under the control of KP.9 On lawyers rejected the Committee’s ground, however, not much appears report. The Commission’s chairman to changing. As a starting point, local rather said that deciding about government elections could be held constitutional reform was not in the in FATA or at least those agencies domain of the commission.7 which are considered as terror free now. To many, it reflects the old strategy: dealing with militants heavy- Progress on FATA marks Pakistan’s handedly, and leaving the status of overall commitment on other fronts. FATA aside. The fear is that once the As long as FATA remains distinct, operation concludes, the vacuum doubts will linger over Pakistan’s will once again provide militants an commitment to fight terrorism in and opportunity to re-group there. outside

Meanwhile, in May 2015, the . government constituted FATA Tribunal, to take up cases dispensed by administrators.8 This tribunal,

5 Zulfiqar Ali, “Another commission 7 "Commission and political forces formed on Fata reforms,” Dawn, May 20, disagree on FATA constitutional reform," 2014. FATA Reforms, May15, 2015. 6“FATA Reforms Commission 8 “’Much awaited’ Fata Tribunal formed,” Notification (May 2014),” Dawn, May 28, 2015. http://fatareforms.org/2014/05/16/fat 9 Iftikhar Firdous, "Bajaur, Mohmand a-reforms-commission-notification-may- agencies' merger into PATA proposed," 2014. Express Tribune, September 3, 2015.

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Watching online space

Nighat Dad

 Nighat Dad, a lawyer and human rights activists, is the Executive Director of Digital Rights Foundation, Pakistan. She has been recently included in Next Generation Leaders List by TIME's magazine for her work on helping women fight online harassment.

eedless to say, militants exploit monitoring measures our officials N online space for their narrow have been thinking of. Militants agenda. Internet proliferate their reportedly send each other messages messages, spreading it to distant in encrypted language or by leaving areas and unknown people. Jihadist messages at public forums. groups, for instance, run websites which freely offers videos and Squeezing open space magazines espousing their thinking; anyone can read that material and Post-NAP, the suggested remedy by watch video. This way, online the government is not in synch with medium serves as yet another the digital bits on ground. recruitment and propaganda Reportedly, the government has been platform to the militants. planning to roll out cybercrime bill, in response to the militant threat. With this mind, probably, the That bill will encompass activities government inserted a point, in NAP, beyond the domain of terrorism. of regulating social media and internet. Modern-day terrorism that confronts Pakistan is a temporary Surely, checking internet is one phenomenon. It has come to haunt us important step in eliminating after the 9/11 attacks mostly. Since terrorist. But several factors raise then, there has been urges to fight doubts if the effort will ever be militants at home. Much of the failure effective in catching terrorists. in driving militancy out has to do with our inaction and confusion. First of all, how much of online space Once the state decides to face has in reality been exploited for militants head-on, as it claims so, recruitment in Pakistan is unknown. terrorist won’t stay for long. Yes, the failed Times Square bomber drew inspiration from YouTube What is need is a time-bound videos of an Al-Qaeda ideologue in response, not something that is ever Yemen, but that was in the United lasting. Military courts are a case in States, not Pakistan. Pakistani point, to which political parties militancy has largely made inroads in agreed only when the government those areas where the accessibility of ensured that the courts will stay for internet is low, like FATA or south two years only. Punjab. The cybercrime bill will stay forever. This is not to say that urban terrorists Once enacted, it will stay as law. don’t rely on internet. They do. But they are steps ahead of the

Comprehensive review of NAP

The said bill is draconian, simply. based on countering the militant With no protections, the bill slaps threat. strict punishments: several years of punishment, and hefty fine. People Anusha Rehman, minister for I.T., can be grilled for mere suspicion; readily admits that the need for new their devices could be confiscated. bill is contingent upon the militant Likewise, the definition of “anti- threat. On one occasion, she counted Pakistan” is too vague. The law can security agencies and IT stakeholders also punish someone accused of (ministry of IT, IT professionals) as supporting crime.1 the only two stakeholders to the bill. When asked if civil society can be Surely, no country should counted, she dismissed the calls. compromise on is national security, but having a law that strips off rights Clearly, what she and her party for ever, in the name of security, is ignores is that should political not a reasonable way out. The law landscape change a bit, they might declares terrorist anyone who find their own colleagues dragged commits crime online. The two need under the cybercrime bill. not be connected. Surely, abuse or hate speech Currently, the bill is sitting with the populates online space. Lately, there standing committee of the National has been a tendency among some Assembly. A working group has also section to out rightly degrade, curse, been constituted to ‘fine tune’ the bill. and harass others. They should be But the whole process is kept secret. checked, as demanded passionately Little is known about the group’s by human rights activists. But such members, meeting minutes, and hate speak is often traced to the other details. corridors of the rightwing speakers, who quickly jump at questioning the To be sure, the exercise on drafting a faith or loyalty of their rivals. Such cybercrime bill starter much earlier. people squeeze whatever little space And it includes a broad range of there is for those desiring a pluralistic issues including electronic theft. But, voice. And they go unchecked. it was after NAP that more urgency was expressed to re-draft the bill that As of now, the suggested remedy by caters to the militant problem and Pakistani government aims at further pass it immediately. To some, the squeezing those voices, to the substance of the cybercrime bill is advantage of those who flout an

1 For details of the amended bill, see: Waseem Abbasi, "Law to punish cyber- crimes on the cards," The News, September 7, 2015.

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Watching online space exclusive agenda aimed at stifling Black and white approach voices of other people. The government has limited This despite that there are already technical capacity of handling cyber- laws through which the government related issues, as if there is little can keep an eye on terrorism understanding of the issue. activities online; being one of them; Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 deals with Generally, when it comes to data terrorism, Section 509 of the PPC collection, the agencies have to get a deals with crimes against women warrant for that, under Fair Trial Act. and the 1887 Telegraph Act. Then, However, on what the government there is Pakistan Protection Act, with has been doing, the approach is in a breakout time of two years. And so black and white, comprising of two forth. key elements: monitoring and censorship. Ironically, the goal-oriented terrorists find their way out. They are tech- The government has already been savvy, too. It would not be an monitoring web and suspending exaggeration to say that they operate websites it accused of being anti- beyond the capacity of the Pakistan. As of now, internet in government. Pakistan is regulated by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, a What is, therefore, worrisome is that regulatory body. According to a while the terrorists might get away report by Privacy International, as of with their acts, the common citizens June 2013, Pakistani intelligence will come in the crosshairs. agency “sought to develop a mass surveillance system” to monitor A committee was also formed to Pakistani internet users on a massive monitor the progress on this point of scale following American National NAP. Nine months later, there is no Security Agency model.2 information available about the committee meetings and decisions The government’s approach is made. buying software worth millions of dollars. Fin Fisher costing 57 million Pakistani rupees is an example; rather ironically, this surveillance software, costing millions of dollars, monitored on a handful of people.3

2 "Tipping the scales: Security & sites/default/files/PAKISTAN%20REP surveillance in Pakistan," Privacy ORT%20HIGH%20RES%2020150721.pdf Intelligence, 3"Pakistan is a Fin Fisher customer, leak https://www.privacyinternational.org/ confirms," DRF, August 22, 2014,

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Then, there were reports that them, yet the same power is diffused Pakistani IT companies, on behalf of to different authorities. security agencies, have approached notorious international firms, like With new law, government’s Hacking Team, to buy surveillance surveillance will be further technologies worth of million dollars. unregulated and massive, although it A recent Privacy International is an is mentioned that the Fair Trial Act eye-opener in this regards. 2013 will be followed to acquire the warrants from High Court to conduct For late, the government has been surveillance however there is still an planning to lay a mass surveillance accountability question about the system; even a tender has been implementation of such FTA floated. provisions aim to regulate surveillance powers by agencies. Rather strikingly, the government From the outset it is still too arbitrary has blocked websites that have and collected data end up to exploit nothing to do with terrorism. On the political gains. other hand, the websites of terrorism are freely accessible. Part of suspicion One of the provisions of the proposed owes to government’s selective bill deals with seized data. Under the regulation of internet: while the law, the government will retain the government has eagerly clamped data for one year, whereas the ISPs down on Baloch websites, websites are asked to keep it for long. There is luring youth on religious grounds fear that the government cannot stay open. protect the data it intends to retain, and that the data might get ‘leaked’ There are also several codes invoked to exploit political goals. to clamp down on internet users: Anti-Terrorism Act, Pakistan We, demanding a change in this Protection Ordinance, blasphemy provision, are asking to remove the law, exceptions of article 19 of the requirement for blanket retention of constitution. These legislations metadata by service providers. empower different security bodies to Mandatory blanket retention of do the job. ATA gives power to metadata is inherently police, proposed cyber bill to the disproportionate and therefore a agencies, and PPA to the military. violation of the right to privacy. There are stark disagreements among Instead, service providers may be required, upon a judicially- authorized warrant, to provide the http://digitalrightsfoundation.pk/pakis tan-is-a-finfisher-customer-leak- confirms.

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Watching online space relevant authorities with metadata is no way that victims of privacy that the service providers collect for violations can get legal remedy. Also the purposes of delivering their a privacy commission should be services on specified individuals established which should work as a watch dog and not only entertain There should be a comprehensive peoples complaint s but keep an eye legislation on personal data on upcoming legislations against protection. Pakistan has none. There violation of privacy rights.

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Zero tolerance for militancy in Punjab

Aoun Sahi

Aoun Sahi is an investigative journalist in Islamabad, who has published in leading newspapers including The News.

n December 25th, 2014, nine days FATA-based groups fighting security O after Pakistani Taliban attacked forces in tribal areas and adjoining Army Public School in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. killing 150, mostly children, the country’s political leadership Over years, Punjab became main approved a comprehensive 20-point centre of militant and religious National Action Plan against organizations. On January 14th, 2015, terrorism. Prime Minister Nawaz interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Sharif, in a televised address to the Khan briefed Prime Minister that the nation, described the incident as number of proscribed organisations having “transformed the country.” actively engaged in terrorism and extremism in Punjab province alone, Rare admission had reached 95.3

Beyond the usual vows of countering Punjab-based groups carry the “terrorist mind-set”, Prime signatures on the most deadly and Minister Sharif made a rare audacious plots. Not only did they admission of the presence of militant carry out attacks in key Punjab cities groups in the country’s largest like Lahore and Rawalpindi, Punjab- province Punjab, when he vowed to based groups had key role in go after them, come what may.1A terrorism outside Punjab: They political leader who attended the fought security forces in tribal areas meeting approving NAP recalled and KP, especially in Swat; that one of the topics that dominated orchestrated sectarian attacks against the discussion was militancy in Shia Hazaras in Quetta; attacked Punjab. “It was discussed at length military installations in Karachi; and that to make NAP successful, there rammed Marriot Hotel in would be zero tolerance to militancy Islamabad. That is why a leading in Punjab”, he said requesting security expert wrote that the “real anonymity.2 Clearly enough, NAP battle against violent extremism” too calls invokes the same point. would have to be fought in Punjab.4

In the past, especially after 9/11, the Punjabi militants didn’t emerge now. state hardly took serious actions Many first fought during the Afghan against Punjab-based militant war in 1980s and later shifted their organizations. The focus was largely focus to Kashmir in 1990s. According on Pakistani Taliban and other to some reports, in 1990s, at least 72

1 Khawar Ghumman, “NAP report 3 Khawar Ghumman, “95 banned groups indicates little progress on key fronts,” active in Punjab,” Dawn, January 15, Dawn, April 3, 2015. 2015. 2Author’s interview with a politician, 4Zahid Hussain, “Tackling militancy in who requested anonymity. Punjab,” Dawn, December 31, 2014.

Comprehensive review of NAP jihadi organizations were active in network in the province, spreading Punjab; many merged into bigger the militant ideology, hosted the groups, and several splintered. Arab ‘guests.’ Throughout, many of these groups retaining their old links with Afghan Hardly actions have been taken Taliban, Al-Qaeda, and other outfits against the 20 or so seminaries in in Pakistani tribal areas. Rawalpindi, special branches have identified, or many others across Often, militancy in Punjab is dumped Punjab, despite the announcement of to it southern Punjab. In May 2012, NAP. chief minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif admitted that the southern part of Dawn attributed the inaction to Punjab was a “breeding ground” for protests by religious parties: militants. (Yet, Punjab governments hardly took action against the “The religious parties, after militant network and outfits there.) protesting vigorously that their seminaries should not be caught up But Punjab militant networks go in the dragnet, had gone quiet and beyond the province’s southern belt. those with a presence in politics Many militant organizations have had returned to business as usual, successfully established their a clear enough sign that their networks in urban centres of apprehensions have been northern and central Punjab, too. In assuaged. mid-2014, the special branches of Rawalpindi and Islamabad police How has this silence come about? reported that Tehreek-e-Taliban Have they been given an assurance Pakistan was receiving full support that their networks will not be from religious seminaries in touched in the course of fighting Rawalpindi, where 20 Deobandi terror? And if so, will this seminaries served as bases for assurance weaken the fight or terrorists to launch attacks in the twin strengthen it?”5 cities. Punjab government informed the Vast network Supreme Court on July 23, 2015 that 16,000 madrassas are working in the Post-9/11, when the United States province. Nearly 6000 of these are attacked Afghanistan, scores of Al- unregistered, according to the then Qaeda leaders ran to Pakistan, where Punjab home minister Colonel they were arrested from different (Retd.) Shuja Khanzada. He also cities of Punjab. The vast madrassa admitted that “some seminaries” in

5Dawn editorial titled “Government’s confusion,” published on March 10, 2015.

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Zero tolerance for militancy in Punjab

Punjab were funded by “brotherly NAP,” an official said, despite that Muslim countries.” (Khanzada was arresting people would not solve killed in a suicide attack in August militancy issue. This, he said, has 2015.6) decreased over time.7

Home department officials argue Even when interior ministry that majority of madrassas are prepared a progress report on unwilling to register under the new National Action Plan by the end of form the interior ministry issued, March, it didn’t delve much into probably because the form also asks progress on Punjab. All it wrote for reveal funding source. about progress on countering militancy in Punjab was a one line: Superficial enthusiasm “Punjab government is actively pursuing government policy in this After NAP was announced, Punjab regard”. There was no explanation of government showed some what this “government policy” was seriousness initially to curb the and what Punjab government is militancy. This seems to be the claim “actively pursuing.” made in an official report the province submitted to the Prime In any case, scepticism followed if Minister’s Office in March 2015. those arrested mattered. A police According to this report, between official based in Lahore noted that late December 2014 and March 2015, most of those arrested in the province the security agencies conducted were low-ranked members or 14,791 operations in Punjab and workers of banned organizations, arrested 2,798 people. Moreover, who had nothing to do with policy Punjab police also arrested 3,214 making of those organizations. people for violating the usage of loud “Majority of them were detained for speaker and registered register 707 one month or so and were released cases of hate speech. More people by courts on the first hearing”, he from banned organizations were put said. under the Fourth Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act, so as to monitor Ahl-e-Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) is their activities; the figure now is 1700. one such sectarian group which reportedly came under the radar of Officials also feel less pressurized to the government. The group implement the NAP. “In the earlier previously operated as Sipah-e- days, there was a lot of pressure to Sahaba (SSP), which itself was the arrest more and more people under reincarnation of Pakistan’s most

6 "Punjab home minister Shuja Khanzada 7Author’s interview with a government killed in terror attack," Dawn, August 17, official, who requested anonymity. 2015.

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Comprehensive review of NAP dreadful sectarian-militant group of with tougher stance against Pakistan Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ). government and security forces.” ASWJ was reportedly banned in March 2012, though it continues to Deeper shift? work openly in the country.8 On July 29, 2015, Pakistani woke to In the recent crackdown, 600 of its the news that Malik Ishaq, founding activists were arrested from Punjab, member of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, a according to its member. This made a Sunni extremist group, was killed in group’s senior member claim that the a mysterious shootout in major targets of the recent Muzaffargarh, Punjab, along with his crackdown were activists of his two sons and eleven associates. organisation. Malik Ishaq inspired many A couple of months later, most of Deobandi-aligned militant outfits in them were released. “The law Punjab, with footprints on many enforcement authorities failed to attacks against Shias across the produce proofs against them in court country. In 2014, the State of law”, he said. A police officer Department put him on the list of complained, “It is the conviction rate; wanted terrorists. that is the problem.” As to how his death will impact The situation is compared to militant landscape of Punjab is to be nationwide crackdown: on May 28th, seen. Although he parted ways with NACTA’s national coordinator ASWJ, which he thought was too revealed in parliament that of the ‘peaceful’, he drew support from a 49,000 suspects arrested from all over significant section of ASWJ’s youth the country, after December 2014, members. There is a strong only 129 belonged to the TTP.9 possibility that like-minded charged youth from different Deobandi An AWSJ member said that the militant outfits could join hands to security forces were “trying to create take revenge of his death. This could an environment of fear by registering set in revival of LeJ in Punjab. cases and arresting people.” This, he warned, will backfire, as “most of Punjab Home Minister attributed those arrested have come out of jails Ishaq’s death to National Action

8BBC Urdu, March 9, 2012, 9 Zahid Gishkori, “Unsatisfactory http://www.bbc.com/urdu/pakistan/2 progress: Newly crafted anti-terror 012/03/120309_ahl_sunnat_jamat_ban_z strategy going nowhere,” Express s.shtml. Tribune, May 29, 2015.

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Zero tolerance for militancy in Punjab

Plan.10 Many are wondering if A Lahore-based academic, contests Pakistan has finally woken to the the claim of Punjab government threat of militants like Ishaq, who taking any action. The ruling party until his death, was considered off- Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, limits. being a right wing party, would “hardly take actions against Is that really so? militancy.”12 Some in PML-N are even accused of having links with A July 2015 report by International Punjab-based militant groups. Crisis Group claimed that despite According to Hassan Askari Rizvi, “claims to the contrary, the military, “They still stuck in the which has almost complete control conceptualization of militancy and over national security and counter- terrorism.”13 terrorism policy, also still distinguishes between ‘bad’ jihadi One ASWJ member objected to groups, those targeting the security selective approach of security forces forces, and ‘good’ jihadi groups, in Punjab, saying “hardly any action those perceived to promote its taken against Jamaatud Dawa” in strategic objectives in India and Punjab. “Such tactics breeds more Afghanistan.”11 Some of the latter hatred”, he said, adding “the current groups are in Punjab. approach risks aggravating the situation rather than limiting the problem of militancy.”14

10 “Killing of LeJ chief Malik Ishaq was 12Author’s interview with Hassan Askari part of NAP, says Punjab home minister,” Rizvi. Pakistan Today, July 31, 2015. 13 Ibid. 11 International Crisis Group, “Revisiting 14Author’s interview with a member of Counter-terrorism Strategies in Pakistan: ASWJ. Opportunities and Pitfalls,” Asia Report No. 271, July 22, 2015.

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Karachi Operation

Zia Ur Rehman

Zia Ur Rehman is a Karachi-based journalist and researcher who covers militancy and security issues in Pakistan. He has also authored Karachi in Turmoil (2013).

t the time of the school attack in plunder, street crimes, police A Peshawar in December 2014, a excesses and other crimes.1 targeted operation was already in its second year in Karachi. Launched in On June 4, 2015, Rangers Sindh September 2013 and led by law- Director General, Major General Bilal enforcement agencies, with Akbar, in his briefing in the apex paramilitary Rangers playing a key committee reportedly claimed that role, the Karachi operation has been more than 230 billion rupees are targeting terrorists, militant wings of generated annually from citizens of various political parties as well as Karachi through extortion, criminal syndicates. smuggling of Iranian diesel, water supply and land-grabbing, hides of As the government adopted National sacrificial animals, and charity funds Action Plan (NAP) in the wake of the like fitra, zakat.2 (The briefing’s Peshawar school attack, it decided to details were shared with media in the continue with the operation in form of press release a week later on Karachi. “Ongoing operation in June 11.) Karachi will be taken to its logical end,” read NAP. The Rangers’ account of huge ‘crime economy’ of Karachi has astounded Hub of crime economy many but not traders community, which, in fact, has been bearing the Karachi, with its affluent residents brunt of ‘extortion’ at every level. and big businesses, has proved fertile Traders said that they used to pay the ground of financing of every sort of extortion money not only to the criminal activity whether Taliban criminals belonging to independent militants, ethno-political parties or syndicates and political parties but criminal syndicates, carry these out. also to government officials.

In 2013, Geo News quantified the size Lyari gangs of ‘crime economy’ of the city, revealing that its residents are Besides targeting the Taliban groups deprived of Rs 830 million daily operating in Karachi including the through extortion chits, kidnappings TTP, the operation has, since the for ransom, encroachments, loot and onset in 2013, focused on shattering the criminal networks in Lyari town.

1“Karachi’s black economy generates 2 Imran Ayub, "Billions of black money Rs830 million daily,” Geo News, being used to fund terrorism in Karachi: September 3, 2013, Rangers chief", Dawn, June 12. 2015, http://www.geo.tv/article-116604- http://www.dawn.com/news/1187627 Karachis-black-economy-generates- Rs830-million-daily.

Comprehensive review of NAP

Many people have earlier died in this Waziristan, or TTP Mehsud, old town of Karachi, in the vortex of comprising mainly Mehsud gang wars and crime. militants. One of these subscribes to Shehryar Mehsud, another to Khan In the on-going operation, law- Said alias Sajna, both based in tribal enforcement agencies have shattered areas. In Karachi, Shehryar’s group is the crime network, by killing a led by an ex-policeman Daud number of gang leaders.3 Mehsud.

Taliban in Karachi Attacking these groups has been one of the goals of the operation from the Four factions of the TTP operate in start. the city, reflective of the broader divides in the TTP. A Karachi-based Mehsud tribal elder, requesting anonymity, claimed that One of these is a faction of TTP Swat, after NAP, many Taliban militants loyal to Mullah Fazlullah, current have been killed by law-enforcement TTP head, believed to have fled to agencies, especially Rangers. “We Afghanistan. In Karachi, the TTP haven’t seen the Taliban killing Swat' has a secretive setup. It is this anyone or extorting traders in the last group which has mostly killed two months. The TTP militants have policemen and leaders of Awami disappeared and the residents of National Party in the western areas of Pashtun neighbourhoods are now the town. feeling secure,” he said.5

Another is a faction of TTP Political parties Mohmand, which, after separating from the TTP, renamed itself as TTP- A few months ago, after an important Jamaat Ahrar. Loyal to Mohmand- meeting attended by army chief, based Omar Khalid Khurasani, this corps commander Karachi, director group got major dents in Karachi at general of Inter-Services Intelligence the hands of security personnel.4 and director general of Rangers, law- enforcement agencies started naming As of the remaining two factions, politicians – for the first time. So they are derived from TTP South much so that according to Rangers,

3 Author’s interview with a Lyari-based 5 Zia Ur Rehman, "Mehsuds in Karachi no social activist, Jan Baloch, July 19, 2015. longer in control of Mehsuds in 4 Zia Ur Rehman, “Broken in city, Taliban Miramshah", The News, July 14, 2015, factions forge alliance for survival,” The http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays- News, March 28, 2015. News-4-328817-Mehsuds-in-Karachi-no- longer-in-control-of-Mehsuds-in- Miramshah

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Karachi Operation much of the money generated in their purported involvement in Karachi is mainly patronized by “a crimes and financial support to major political party”.6 militants also upset the ranks of the PPP-led Sindh government. In mid- Officials in law enforcement agencies June, PPP’s leader and former said, after shattering the network of president Asif Ali Zardari openly the TTP and Lyari’s criminal gangs, came down harsh on the military now they are focused on ethno- establishment for stepping beyond political and sectarian parties its domain.8 involved in targeted killings and extortions. With a few days, Rangers arrested the Fishermen Cooperative Society The first party to feel pressure was (FCS)’s acting chairman and two the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, a directors for alleged corruption and party popular among Urdu-speaking crime financing in Lyari. All the three community in Karachi. The party has arrested officials were appointed by already been under pressure in the ruling PPP. FCS’s chairman Dr. Karachi and London. They see Nisar Morai, also an aide of the PPP’s ongoing operation against them. top leader, was not in country; he had left abroad four months earlier, Also, besides detaining a number of probably fearing arrest. Rangers the MQM activists in recent months, briefed the anti-terrorist court that Rangers arrested a number of its the FCS’s arrested directors would activists for allegedly forcibly forward seventy percent of the ‘black collecting donations in the city’s money’ they collected to Bilawal Rizvia Society neighborhood on July House, which serves as the PPP head 2. In response, MQM lashed out at office in Karachi.9 Meanwhile, the law-enforcement agency. National Accountability Bureau “Arresting workers for collecting (NAB) also arrested five officials Zakat and Fitra is an attempt to create allegedly linked with land grabbing hurdles in the way of welfare work and terror financing. Above all, and an atrocity on the masses,” the Rangers entered the premises of the party’s statement said.7 Sindh Building Control Authority,

The Rangers’ action against members and leaders of political parties for

6 Rangers’ press release, July 11, 2015. domain”, Dawn, June 17, 2015, 7“Rangers arrest MQM workers for http://www.dawn.com/news/1188576 ‘forcibly’ collecting Fitra in Karachi,” The 9 Zia Ur Rehman, “As law catches up with News, July 2, 2015. FCS officials’ fishy business, workers 8 “Zardari cautions military suffer,” The News. July 4, 2015. establishment for ‘stepping out of

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Comprehensive review of NAP collecting key documents about imperative to take action against buildings.10 ‘terror financing’ networks and the authorities have also been doing it,” Besides two key parties in Sindh said a senior law enforcement (MQM and PPP), the Sunni Tehreek, official, who is involved in ongoing the Awami National Party and targeted operation. “This time, the Sindhi nationalist parties have also federal government and military been in the radar of Rangers for establishment are showing their several months and dozens of their seriousness for bringing peace in the members allegedly involved in city and they would not bow down to criminal activities have been pressure from political parties – both arrested. In June, Rangers raided the in the government and opposition,” ST’s headquarter twice, detaining for he said.14 several hours its central leadership at Rangers Headquarter.11 “The ST is Impact in Karachi the only party which did not protest over the arrest of its members. We Residents of Karachi have been support the Rangers’ operation feeling positive impact of ongoing against targeted killers, extortionists operation in the city and it is largely and criminals in every party, believed that after announcement of including the ST,” said a ST leader.12 the NAP, the operation had not only got a direction but also a support Political experts link the recent raids from the military, the federal to attempts at ending terror and government and other political crime financing. “For such groups, parties. funds are very important for running their activities and they could Various reports on the crime statistics generate funds either from abroad or in Karachi show a significant the Karachi,” said a journalist.13 decrease in target killings in the city after NAP. According to Human Law enforcement officials also Rights Commission of Pakistan corroborate it. “For bringing (HRCP), there has been a significant sustainable peace in the city, it is

10Mazhar Abbas, "Who is protecting 12Author’s interview with Fahimuddin Rs230 bn mafia?", The News, June 16, Shaikh, a spokesperson for the ST, July 2015, 25, 2015. http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays- 13Author’s interview with a Karachi- News-2-323952-Who-is-protecting- based journalist Naimat Khan, July 25, Rs230-bn-mafia 2015. 11 “Rangers issue details of detained 14Author’s interview with a Karachi- Sunni Tehreek activists”, Dawn, June 23, based law enforcement official, July 23, 2015, 2015. http://www.dawn.com/news/1189973

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Karachi Operation decrease in the number of target for a long time and demanding the killings, both political and apolitical. government to strengthen the police, From January to June 2015, 128 which is local and proactive and apolitical people were killed, making understand the city well. it a decrease of 68 percent from the “Controlling law and order situation last year’s corresponding period, in the city is not key duty of Rangers when 403 people were killed.15 and any responsibilities given to them should be temporary”, said an Traders also appreciated significant HRCP’s vice-chairperson. The decrease in instances of extortion and HRCP, he said, have received many killings. They said that because of complaints against the paramilitary peace, this year’s Eid shopping in force for its alleged corruption and Karachi broke the 10 years old involvement in harassment of the record.16According to a Pakistani TV people.18 channel, traders said a “total of Rs 90 billion had been invested on the The HRCP has also raised concerns occasion of Eid, adding that the sale over the increase in extrajudicial of the goods exceeded their killings during the first half of 2015. expectations”.17 With 38 killings in encounters, according to HRCP, there is a 19 However, some raise questions on percent increase in such killings from the intentions of the Rangers. the same period in 2014 when the figure stood at 258.19 The HRCP has been showing its concern over Rangers’ stay in the city

15 Zia Ur Rehman, "‘Rise in extrajudicial 19, 2015, killings, fake encounters may undermine http://dunyanews.tv/index.php/en/Pa credibility of LEAs’", The News, July 16, kistan/289758-Karachi-Traders-credit- 2015, restoration-of-peace-for-r. http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays- 18Author’s interview with Asad Iqbal News-4-329188-Rise-in-extrajudicial- Butt, the HRCP’s vice-chairperson, July killingsfake-encounters-may-undermine- 22, 2015. credibility-of-LEAs 19 Zia Ur Rehman, “Rise in extrajudicial 16Author’s interviews with traders’ killings, fake encounters may undermine leaders. credibility of LEAs,” The News. July 16, 17“Traders credit restoration of peace for 2015. record 70 bn Eid sale,” Dunya News, July

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Balochistan report card

Shahzada Zulfiqar

Shahzada Zulfiqar is a senior journalist based in Quetta, with a deep understanding of politics in Balochistan.

he Balochistan-specific point calls Stern action T for undertaking “the process of reconciliation” – with disgruntled The stern action includes a broad Baloch. In addition, many other range of issues: military operation points have direct bearing on against militants; extradition of self- Balochistan, like of registering exiled Baloch leaders from western madrassas and ending private countries; and confiscation of their all militias. moveable and immovable properties to choke financing to their outfits, As with other provinces, NAP is already banned. reviewed at an apex committee, comprising province’s top civilian Besides these, federal agencies like and military officials of the province. Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), The committee met once under the Customs, National Accountability Prime Minster and twice under the Bureau, and Police have been chairpersonship of Chief Minister Dr. directed to investigate into the Malik Baloch. funding of terrorists. Hawala operators, working under the garb of So far, six convicted persons have money-exchange business, are also been sent to the gallows. A single interrogated, their tehsil records are military court is already working in scrutinized and their property details Balochistan, following NAP. obtained. Balochistan’s home department has sent 53 cases to the interior ministry, In the cyber domain, the government over a two dozen of which have been has already blocked pro-separatist sent to the military court. websites, blogs and Facebook accounts. In February 2014, apex committee met under Prime Minister Nawaz Pakistan Army was involved in Sharif, with Army Chief General military operation in the districts Raheel Sharif as participant, drawing infested with the insurgency while a roadmap of implementing NAP. Frontier Corps Balochistan, a paramilitary force, accelerated the The meeting, because of being pace of already-launched overwhelmed by the military high “information based operations” in ups, approved for stern action the province. against militants and their leaders, calling for negotiation with only The Frontier Corps claims to have those having no involvement in acts killed hundreds of activists and of sabotage and terrorism. dozens of commanders of banned organizations and arrested many more.

Comprehensive review of NAP

One of those it has been following is Reconciliation Dr. Allah Nazar, head of Baloch Liberation Front. Dr. Nazar is the Ever since coming into power in only commander who leads his 2013, Prime Minister Sharif has been group on ground, compared to advocated for giving reconciliation leaders who live abroad. Unlike other efforts a chance. Sharif’s desire has Baloch insurgent groups, BLF also been of bringing on negotiating table draws significant support from all angry Baloch leaders – whether middle-class – Allah Nazar himself is fighting against the state or not, a medical specialist. whether sitting inside the country or living in self-exile. The government and military high- ups think that the on-going Even the National Action Plan calls 5thBaloch insurgency is coming to an upon the provincial government to end in Balochistan. And that there pursue reconciliation process in will be no dissent voice, if Dr. Allah Balochistan. Nazar is killed. But the February 2015 apex meeting On June 29th, 2015, on a tip of about called for negotiations with only the presence of most wanted man Dr. those who have not taken arms Allah Nazar, head of Baloch against the state. Similarly, in June, Liberation Front, a leading insurgent an apex committee, headed by Chief group, the army conducted an Minister Malik Baloch, promised operation in Awaran district and general amnesty for all those who killed his brother and two nephews forsake arms against the state. along with other six villagers. However, the news about the According to this policy, one million presence of BLF commander proved rupees will be awarded for an wrong. ordinary fighter entering mainstream, one-and-a-half million Political observers in the province for a local commander, and two also argue that the government needs million for area commander, and to improve the law and order in the more for others as per to their status, province by crushing the on-going besides promising them government separatist movement for paving the job and security for them and their way for mega projects like families. operationalizing Gwadar port and laying down China-Pakistan Moreover, pro-government tribal Economic Corridor (CPEC). sardars like Nawab Sanaullah Zehri; Nawab Chagaiz Marri, son of separatist late Khair Bakhsh Marri; and Sardar Sarfaraz Domki,

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Balochistan report card grandson of late Nawab Akbar Bugti Balochistan: on one hand, the forces played their due role in persuading are killing Baloch youth through the the outlaws to surrender before the ‘kill-and-dump policy’ or military law. operations; on the other hand, government offers reconciliation.1 Over one hundred fighters, including six commanders, have publicly Such dichotomies continue to raise surrendered from Awaran, Lahri and head in provincial government’s Kohlu. other reconciliation efforts.

One such commander is In the holy month of Ramadan, Chief Obaidullahalia Babrak, a BLF fighter Minister directed a delegation in Awaran. At the time of surrender, comprising provincial ministers and he moved to provincial capital parliamentarians-cum-tribal elders Quetta. Within a few weeks of his of ruling National Party went to surrender, in July, he complained in London to meet self-exiled Khan of a press conference that the Kalat, Mir Suleman Daud, urging government hasn’t fulfilled any of him to return home for filling the the promise announced under tribal vacuum created in his absence. general amnesty. (The government argues there might be some Mir Suleman sits at the top of Baloch misunderstanding.) tribal hierarchy. His grandfather Mir Ahmad Yar Khan signed Instrument While the government takes such of Accession with country’s founder surrenders as game changer, Baloch Quaid-e-Azam, legalizing nationalist groups have little faith in Balochistan’s union with new state of these tried-and-tested measures. Pakistan. Although Mir Suleman They have been tried in the past too, doesn’t have influence over they argue, adding that such separatist outfits, he symbolizes measures aim at buying loyalties of tribal society. In 2006, in the the armed activists through money aftermath of the assassination of instead of addressing their genuine prominent Baloch politician Akbar issues. Despite surrenders made by Bugti in a military operation, Mir some of their commanders and Suleman left Pakistan. members, separatist groups have rejected the amnesty offer, vowing to At that time, he also conveyed a tribal continue fighting till independence. jirga in Kalat, the only tribal jirga ever to be convened in the last century. Baloch nationalists point towards That grand jirga, comprising 85 dichotomy in dealing with chieftains and over 300 elders from

1 The word “kill and dump” is a common term used by nationalists.

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Comprehensive review of NAP all over country and other walks of Pressing issues life, gave Khan the mandate to approach International Court of Some of the issues from Balochistan Justice against Pakistan for its failure are worth looking into, as they to abide by the Instrument of directly relate with NAP’s other Accession reached by his points: grandfather. Winning over Khan will weaken the cause of separatists. One, when it comes to religious- inspired militancy, the basis of NAP, When a delegation from Pakistan despite killings of top-notch went to see him in 2015, Khan put militants, a lot needs to be done. before them some conditions such as recovery of Baloch missing persons Following NAP, security forces killed and putting an end to the on-going top sectarian men like Usman military operations in Balochistan, Saifullah Kurd and Mahmood Kurd the so-called kill and dump policy, alias Wadeed, masterminds of and the trample-down of the sanctity deadly suicide attacks, killing of 'chaddar and chardevari' hundreds of Shia Muslim in (household). Balochistan Balochistan and Sindh. Similarly, in government is unable to meet the August 2015, an important conditions of Khan. commander of Al-Qaeda's Umar Lateef was killed in Chaghi area As of now, Chief Minister Malik bordering neighbouring Baloch may lead another delegation Afghanistan, while his wife Tayyaba to London for another round of talks who is said to be head of women with Khan of Kalat. To make Khan wing was arrested. Meanwhile, in flexible in his conditions, the new Punjab, head of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi delegation will offer some special along with his accomplices was perks and privileges to the Khan, if killed. That much is positive. he returns. After these killings, one can expect Meanwhile, Nawab Sanaullah Zahri, from security agencies to bring such a senior minister and provincial head heinous elements in Balochistan to of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, justice. There is a desire from the in his separate plan of reconciliation, people that the forces need to move is also trying his best to persuade against banned outfits, which often Khan of Kalat into returning home. wear political faces publicly in Quite likely, Mr. Zehri will be sworn Balochistan. in as the new chief minister, under an agreement reached between different Security forces have also raided on parties in Murree after 2013 elections. the shops in Quetta and other

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Balochistan report card districts and confiscated a dozen of robbery, rape, car snatching and books with hate material. abduction for ransom.

On the other hand, no action has been Officials said that they have come taken against the sectarian-infested across enough evidence against one madrassas. Shafiq Mengal, head of a government-backed militia, of According to a report of Home harbouring sectarian and Pakistani Department, 2,441 seminaries have Taliban militants. These militants been registered. Still, it is believed, have also attacked Levy personnel, around a thousand madrassas are yet killed eight. A case has also been to be registered in the far flung areas registered against Shafiq, but he lives of the province. with impunity in his ancestral town of Wadh in Khuzdar district. Two, contrary to the claims of the officials, some government-backed Sardar Akhtar Mengal, the head of private militias still operate across Balochistan National Party, which the province. Many Baloch believes in parliamentary struggle, nationalists believe these militias are has been a harsh critic of intelligence controlled by the pro-government agencies for erecting private militias notables, against separatist groups. against him and his party.

The government-backed militias Three, another major issue Baloch have also been accused of population is confronted with is the persecuting religious minorities, illegal registration of millions of particularly Hindus, during the past Afghan refugees as Pakistani 15 years of insurgency. Hindu nationals and as voters. Baloch traders in restive districts nationalists, including Dr. Malik, are particularly Khuzdar, Kalat and opposing the next census to be Mastung were being forced to pay conducted in 2016 on the grounds of bhatha (extortion) to these private the presence of Afghan refugee, militias. They are intimidated against estimated to be two-and-an half any protest publicly over forced million in Balochistan. conversion in the cases. Hundreds of Hindu families have forcibly Except for the ruling National Party, migrated to India or neighbouring no Baloch party is in the favour of Sindh province. Curbing such groups making Gwadar port operational and will automatically improve the status constructing the China-Pakistan of religious minorities, as called by Economic Corridor. Baloch parties NAP. call for addressing their reservations of the projects, which, they fear, will The activists of these militias have turn the Baloch population into a been involved in crimes like highway minority in their own land.

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The military high-ups in apex committee meetings have assured provincial government to inform its concerns to their top brass and federal government. Pashtun parties, often symbolized by the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), reject these reservations.

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Action against sectarian terrorists

Safdar Sial

ational Action Plan talks about announced. A media report in N taking stern action against January said that Punjab was far sectarian terrorists and elements ahead in taking such actions where spreading sectarianism. With regards 329 were arrested against hate to that, a review of actions taken by speech–a number that surged to 4,000 the federal and provincial until August. Furthermore, the governments thus far suggests that report said, 1,471 people were they have largely security or counter- arrested, until January, in Punjab and terrorism orientation. However one 14 in Islamabad over misuse of should be hopeful that sooner or later loudspeakers.2 The Punjab scope of these actions will be government has also launched an expanded to address factors which extensive campaign of sealing shops promote sectarian extremist mindset selling hate material and confiscating and faith-based intolerance and such material. In recent weeks and persecution in Pakistani society. months, other provinces have also stepped up efforts against hate Action speech and literature.

While sharing his views on NAP Some sectarian terrorists or those implementation with media, on found involved in sectarian target August 24, Federal Interior Minister killing were also among those Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said his executed after a moratorium on government’s efforts had brought death penalty was lifted in December terrorism down by 70 percent. He last year. According to media reports, stated that fighting and cracking more than 200 persons have been down religious, sectarian terrorist executed so far including the groups is now a top priority of the following who were convicted in government.1 The interior minister different cases of sectarian targeted also counted his government’s killing. actions against the misuse of loudspeakers and propagation of  Attaullah Arif Qasim and hate speech and literature. Muhammed Azam Arif Sharif were hanged on Indeed action against hate speech February 3 for their role in and literature–which are main the sectarian killing of a Shia propagation tools employed by both violent and non-violent sectarian organizations–was launched immediately after NAP was

1 “No terrorist network left capable of 2Khawar Ghumman, “Punjab ahead of operating in Pakistan: Nisar,” Dawn, other provinces in anti-terror steps,” August 25, 2015. Dawn, January 24, 2015.

Comprehensive review of NAP

physician in Karachi in  On September 2, an ISPR 2001.3 statement said “the COAS  Convicted in 2004, Ikramul has confirmed death Haq alias Akram Lahori, a sentence of another five co-founder of Sunni hardcore terrorists.” sectarian group Lashkar-e- Reportedly two among the Jhangvi (LeJ), was executed convicts were members of in Lahore on January 17 for LeJ and involved in sectarian killing a guard at a Shia killings in Quetta.7 mosque.4  Ghulam Shabbir and Ahmed According to data compiled by Pak Ali–who reportedly Institute for Peace Studies’ (PIPS) digital database unit, around 20 belonged to Sipah-e-Sahaba major search-and-hunt operations Pakistan–were hanged on were launched between January and January 7 in Multan.5 They August 15 this year against sectarian were executed for a string of groups across Pakistan. A total of 133 killings, including a police key members and affiliates of chief and his driver. sectarian groups were arrested mainly those belonging to Ahle  Muhammad Saeed Awan, a Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) (91) and member of the LeJ, was LeJ (31).8 Those arrested also hanged at Karachi`s Central included ASWJ central president Jail on January 15. Awan was Maulana Aurangzeb Farooqi, who convicted of shooting to was detained on June 5 near Taxila. death police officer Sadiq Hussain Shah and his son, Most of these arrests were made in Sindh, mainly in Karachi, and in Abid Hussain Shah, in 2001.6 Chakwal, Rawalpindi, Lahore and Jhang districts of Punjab on the main

3 Saroop Ejaz, “Dispatches: Pakistan’s 6 “Two convicts executed in Lahore,” misguided approach to extremism,” Pakistan Today, January 15, 2015. Human Rights Watch, February 4, 2015, 7 Baqir Sajjad Syed, “Army chief endorses https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/02/ 5 death sentences,” Dawn, September 3, 04/dispatches-pakistans-misguided- 2015. approach-extremism. 8 PIPS database on conflict and security, 4 “Akram Lahori executed in Lahore,” available at: http://san- The Nation, January 17, 2015. pips.com/index.php?action=db&id=1. 5 Amjad Ali, “Pakistan hangs two militants from outlawed sectarian group,” Reuters, January 7, 2015.

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Action against sectarian terrorists charges of detainees’ involvement in Little efforts were made under NAP sectarian violence; target killing; to reform madrassa curricula, distribution of hate literature; and faculties and environment, which as support and facilitation to sectarian a whole, make these institutions of outfits. Such arrests however religious education sectarian- remained minimal in Khyber oriented. Minister for Religious Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan Affairs and Inter-Faith Harmony provinces. Sardar Mohammad Yousaf recently stated that no progress was made on Similarly some key commanders of the front of madrassa reforms since violent sectarian groups have been 2000 – the era of Gen Parvez killed by security forces and law Musharraf.10 enforcement agencies since the announcement of NAP. On February In recent weeks, law enforcers have 15, a top commander of the Lashkar- raided different madrassas across e-Jhangvi Usman Saifullah Kurd, and Pakistan on the suspicion of their his companion were killed in a clash links to support for militants. with paramilitary troops of FC in Similarly, Punjab and Balochistan Quetta.9 Kurd was reportedly the have completed geo-tagging of main man behind killing of Hazara madrassas while KP and Sindh are Shias in Quetta. In July, LeJ chief engaged in the process.11 Malik Ishaq, his two sons Usman and Haq Nawaz, and 11 other militants In a significant move, the top civilian were killed in an alleged exchange of and military leadership including fire with police personnel in army chief and prime minister held a Muzaffargarh, Punjab. meeting with representatives of religious seminaries on August 7, Apart from that, ongoing military which indicated that the issue of operation in Karachi has also madrassa reforms will now be taken considerably weakened Sunni and seriously.12 One day before this Shia sectarian groups operating meeting, interior minister had said there. that seminaries will not be allowed to spread sectarian hatred and issue Madrassas are described by many as fatwas declaring others infidels. breeding ground of sectarianism.

9Express Tribune, February 16, 11Zahid Gishkori, “Sindh, G-B try to geo- 2015, http://tribune.com.pk/story/8390 tag religious seminaries,” Express 45/top-lej-commander-killed-in-quetta- Tribune, July 5, 2015. gunfight. 12 Khawar Ghumman, “Govt won’t space 10 Khawar Ghumman, “30 seminaries errant seminaries, ulema told,” Dawn, closed, says minister,” Dawn, August 10, August 8, 2015. 2015.

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At the same time, Pakistan’s decision militants, including sectarian, under of staying away from Yemen crisis tremendous pressure. Killing of some was also partly meant to preempt any main leaders of sectarian outfits and sectarian backlash of the conflict in arrests of their members and leaders Pakistan. While denying Saudi have certainly weakened their request to join combat forces against infrastructure. Secondly, due to Shia Houthis in Yemen, Pakistani mounting pressure following the parliamentarians also took into Peshawar school attack last year, consideration the ongoing counter- supporters and facilitators of terrorism campaign in the country. sectarian terrorists have also become At the same time, after the very cautious in their attitude. announcement of NAP, criticism of Saudi Arabia’s alleged funding to The number of sectarian-related madrassas and violent sectarian terrorist attacks and clashes has also groups in Pakistan has also significantly decreased following increased. According to media January 2015. (See Chart 1) Between reports, a group of experts had January 1 and August 15 this year, a recommended to a NAP committee total of 46 sectarian-related terrorist that Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the attacks took place in Pakistan, which United Arab Emirates should be were 53 percent less than such attacks asked to stop funding the banned recorded during the corresponding religious, sectarian groups in period of 2014.14 Out of a total 46 Pakistan.13 reported sectarian-related attacks in 2015, 25 targeted Shia and 17 Sunni Impact religious scholars and members of respective religious organizations; Search-and-hunt and operational two attacks hit worship places and strikes by security forces and law shrines and one attack each targeted enforcement agencies and other members of Bohra and Ismaili measures taken by the state as part of communities.15 NAP, as cited earlier, have put the

13 Zahid Gishkori, “National Action Plan: 14 Statistics are based on PIPS database on Pakistan in fresh push to choke terror conflict and security, available at: funding,” Express Tribune, January 10, http://san- 2015. pips.com/index.php?action=db&id=1. 15 Ibid.

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Sectarian violence in Pakistan (January 1 to August 15, 2015)

Although frequency of sectarian- 48 injured. Later in May, over 43 related attacks has decreased in 2015, people lost their lives in a sectarian- yet sectarian militants and their allies related attack on Ismaili community such as Pakistani Taliban and in Karachi. Jundullah were successful in launching some major attacks during However, on the whole, incidents of the year. A lethal suicide blast in sectarian violence, including attacks Shikarpur in January targeted an and clashes, have posted a imambargah and killed 63 people. A considerable decline in 2015 when suicide attack in an imambargah in compared to previous years. (See Hayatabad area of Peshawar on Chart 2) February 13 killed 23 civilian and left

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Chart 3: Trends of sectarian violence in Pakistan (2010-2015)

Sectarian Attacks and Clashes Killed Injured

1569 1319 900 626 687 663 563 332 397 255 163 213 220 199 152 139 144 46 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 (until August 15)

Nonetheless, trends of sectarian equally stringent efforts by all the violence in 2015 indicated that all provinces as well as federal four provinces of Pakistan were government. vulnerable to the threat. That calls for

Chart 3: Sectarian flashpoints in Pakistan in 2015

Incidents of sectarian violence (1 Jan. to 15 Aug.) Killed Injuured

72 63 48 47 30 26 22 22 21 13 10 13 3 5 1

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Way forward functional mechanism of reform. Secondly, although government Experts believe that sectarianism is a actions have weakened or deterred structural problem attached to sectarian terrorist groups, they still Pakistan’s religious-ideological pose threat of sectarian violence. discourse. They argue that violent Security forces and law enforcement and non-violent sectarian actors will agencies should enhance their efforts continue posing challenges in across Pakistan, in collaboration with security and politico-ideological intelligence agencies, to further perspectives for a longer period of weaken and dismantle sectarian time. However, with concerted and terrorist infrastructure. As described comprehensive state efforts the earlier in the report, sectarian groups threat can be reduced to a minimal have managed to launch major level. Actions taken under NAP need attacks in 2015 in almost all parts of to be strengthened and made broader the country. Also, their nexus with in scope to include measures which local and international terrorist stop madrassas and sectarian actors groups such as Al-Qaeda needs to be from promoting extremist narratives broken. The Islamic State has also and causing ideological been inspiring Pakistan’s militant radicalization among respective groups including LeJ and Jundullah sects. having anti-Shia sectarian objectives. At the same time, there are little- The recent meetings of Pakistan’s known cells of violent sectarian civilian and military leaders with groups which they form on a prominent religious leaders and temporary basis for carrying out representatives of madrassa specific activities. For instance, the educational boards is perhaps first of law enforcement agencies have its kind, which conveyed state’s discovered many of such cells newfound resolve and message that including Al-Mukhtar group, the religious extremism, including Punjabi Taliban and the Khurooj sectarian, will not be tolerated any group in their crackdown on the LeJ more. That is evident from the fact in Karachi.1 that apart from prime minister and interior minister, army chief and DG Thirdly, sectarian groups have a ISI also participated in the meeting. history of using political umbrella to There is a need for converting this survive in the face of government’s ‘message’ into some institutional and action. For instance ASWJ, which is

1 Zia Ur Rehman, “Vengeful LeJ, its affiliates may strike in Karachi,” The News, July 30, 2015.

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Comprehensive review of NAP reportedly reincarnation of the Similarly, in the recently held PK-95 banned Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan and by-polls in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, is currently Pakistan Rah-e-Haq Party (PRHP) trying to enhance its political surfaced as the third political party, credentials. The group, led by which was founded in February 2012 Ahmad Ludhianvi, showed by Hakeem Muhammad Ibrahim insignificant reaction to the July 30 Qasmi, a former provincial leader of killing of LeJ chief Malik Ishaq in a banned Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan reported police encounter in Punjab. (SSP).3 The group claims that it does ‘not support arson, terrorism and Government needs to ensure that no aggression’.2 Many believe that that violent sectarian group is able to use is only a political statement because political cover to advance its the ASWJ is engaged in fighting with sectarian agenda. Also, religious- Shia sectarian groups mainly in political parties should be Karachi and Rawalpindi-Islamabad discouraged from using sectarian where many of its members have also narratives for political gains. been target killed in recent months and years.

2 Kalbe Ali, “Malik Ishaq had serious 3 Zia Ur Rehman, “Ominous signs: the differences with Ludhianvi: observers,” rise of Pakistan Rah-e-Haq Party,” The Dawn, August 25, 2015. News on Sunday, May 31, 2015.

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Afghan refugees and NAP

Rauf Khan Khattak

 Rauf Khattak served as secretary of the federal government and as Chief Commissioner Afghan Refugees.

he National Action Plan (NAP) is cross over and embraced as “brothers T uttered with such feelings of in faith”. Ever since we are working achievement as if it was the last bullet closely with United Nations High lodged between the eyes of the last Commissioner for Refugees militant standing. Yet, a close reading (UNHCR) and other international makes one wonder if the attempt is to agencies under agreed protocols and indulge in number games of adding looking after them. point after point to NAP with no particular relevance to the issue. Moreover, from 1979-80 till 1991, the same refugees were our mujahideen Let me return to one such issue, the (holy warriors). We launched them place of Afghan refugees, a NAP against their own country. The point. In in its entirety, the point calls UNHCR and the world are equally for formulation of a policy that deals culpable in violation of stated with Afghan refugees, starting off international law on refugees. Again, with their registration. from 1991 onwards, we played a big role in their internal squabbles. And Even if the point was conveniently yet, none of us seemed to have any left out of the document, the issue with that. government’s anti-terror plan would still not be hurt. But, now, the presence of about 2.6 million Afghan refugees in the Convenient excuse country is causing a great deal of heart burning, some because of racial Afghans came to Pakistan mostly in and economic reasons, others 1980s in the aftermath of war in their because of their perceived country. At the peak, 4.4 million involvement in crimes and militancy. Afghan refugees lived in Pakistan. Their sheer number made Pakistan Admittedly, refugees all over the one of the largest recipients of world cause problems for the host refugees in the world. At one point, countries. They are considered a the country hosted 21% of the burden. These days, Europe, despite world’s refugees, overwhelmingly, its riches, is trying to turn into a Afghans. fortress refusing entry and rehabilitation of a few hundred Despite being a non-signatory to the thousand asylum seekers. Same can Geneva Convention of Refugees, be seen in our attitude towards Pakistan, in a considered policy, Afghan refugees. threw open its borders to the Afghans, who were encouraged to But to attribute all our present ills – crimes, drugs, weapons, militancy

Comprehensive review of NAP etc. – to Afghan refugees is a mistake. Registering Afghans Yes, some of them are involved in crimes, but how many? At present, the number of registered Afghans in Pakistan is 1.6 million; in The case of their involvement in addition, over a million militancy is weak. The National undocumented Afghans live Action Plan was primarily focused Pakistan, according to the on militancy in Pakistan, after the Commissioner of Afghan Refugees ghoulish attack on December 16th, (CAR). 2014 on Army Public School in Peshawar in which 164 young Lately, it is said the issue is less about students lost their lives. The attack registered Afghan refugees than has hardly anything to do with unregistered one. The Ministry of Afghans, as all the attackers were States and Frontier Regions was Pakistanis. quick to follow up the NAP point to formulate a comprehensive policy to Thus, to say that Pakistan would deal with the issue of Afghan have been one of the most stable and refugees, beginning with their safe country, without Afghan registration. refugees, is wrong conclusion. Pakistan would have been facing Apparently, the architects of NAP much ordeal, had 2.6 million did not know that a policy already refugees turned the militant path. existed. Majority Afghan refugees are abiding their time peacefully, doing Pakistan’s policy towards Afghan menial jobs. refugees is shaped by the Tripartite Agreement, signed by Pakistan, The law-enforcement agencies, Afghanistan and UNHCR. The despite their worst criticism of agreement, which calls for voluntary refugees, have never been able to repatriation of Afghan refugees was produce any figures on their first signed in Brussels in March 2003 involvement in crimes. Blaming and has been renewed since then. As refugees is a convenient excuse. For of now, it is valid till 31 December, the police these hapless people are 2015. milch cows. What rather needs to be checked in is the exploitation of both Still, on March 10th, 2015, a bilateral registered and unregistered refugees meeting took place between by police. There is no voice to express Pakistani and Afghan officials at their exploitation. SAFRON ministry. The two governments agreed to document the unregistered Afghan refugees with technical support by National

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Database Registration Authority, the Strategy for Afghan Refugees country’s identity-card issuing (SSAR), which calls for voluntary authority, and verification by Afghan return and sustainable integration authorities; constituted a committee and assistance to host countries. of three members each from Pakistan and Afghanistan to work out the The process of documentation of modalities of documentation; unregistered Afghan refugees was charted out a common strategy and expected to start in July-August this plan involving Pakistan, Afghanistan year, according to Commissioner of and UNHCR, with clear timelines Afghan Refugees but this seems to keeping in view the absorption have been delayed. The Ministry of capacity of Afghanistan; and Finance has released 150 million endorsed the Enhanced Voluntary rupees to NADRA for this purpose. Return and Registration Package (EVRRP) for Afghans.1 The progress thus made is quick and satisfactory. But the point is, as one Just day after the SAFRON meeting, can glean from the above, it has little on March 11th, 2015, the 25th bearing on the effort against Tripartite Committee meeting was militancy. held in Islamabad. The Committee reaffirmed their commitment to the Generous host voluntary repatriation of the refugees in safety and dignity keeping in view International refugee law is governed the enabling environment in by the 1951 Geneva Convention of Afghanistan. It was agreed that full Refugees or its additional 1967 and effective integration of refugees Protocol. According to these, as long in Afghanistan will be a gradual and as a refugee conforms to the laws, challenging endeavour. It was also regulations and public order of the agreed that the new reform agenda of host country, that person is not to be Afghanistan will include the discriminated on the basis of race, returning refugees. religion or country of origin. The personal status of a refugee, such as Then, there is another committee, of in marriage, is to be governed by the four players, one more than the country of domicile, or in case of no tripartite now. This committee, the domicile, the law of the country of Quadripartite Steering Committee, residence. also include Iran, another host of Afghan refugees. The quadripartite The foremost principle governing the committee met in Tehran on May international refugee law is the 19th, 2015 and endorsed the Solution principle of non-refoulement, a

1It is US$200 per individual and US$1200 per family.

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French word meaning “no forced Compared with the current global expulsion”. The return of the refugee apathy and callousness towards has to be on voluntary basis and in a migrants, Pakistan, Turkey and dignified manner. Lebanon have earned praise of the world by hosting millions refugees Although Pakistan is not a signatory running from war. Pakistan comes to these codes, its policy, as discussed out as a star for hosting millions of above, calls for voluntary refugees for the longest period in repatriation. history.

Still, ever since the NAP has been We should not squander the announced, Afghan refugees in goodwill. Pakistan have once again come under the radar of law-enforcement agencies.

This happens as the world conscience has been shaken by fate of asylum seekers in the Mediterranean and in the Indian Ocean. Chaotic and shameful scenes are on display in mainland Europe splashed by TV screens around the world. The EU is paralysed and has failed to come up with a united response to this human tragedy. Similarly, the south eastern Asian countries looked the other way from the dying Rohingyas and desperate Bengalis lift to drift on the sea.

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Tahir Saeen Group: higher-degree militants

Farhan Zahid

 Dr. Farhan Zahid is an expert of counter-terrorism and Islamist militant groups in Pakistan. His book Roots of Islamic Violent Activism in South Asia was published in 2014.

n May 13, a group of militants in sectarian bloodbath, its involvement O police uniforms intercepted a seemed plausible. bus near Safoora Goth, a suburb of Karachi near Karachi University. The As police progressed in its bus was carrying minority Ismaili investigation, the ISIS connection got Shias.1 Six of them entered the bus, weakened. Instead, some members of one of them over the driver’s seat and the attackers were in contact with another guarded the vehicle door. Ayman Al-Zawahiri, leader of Al- The other four started indiscriminate Qaeda, which didn’t endorse ISIS’s firing for 10 to 12 minutes.2 Forty claim of militant caliphate. What’s three people were killed in the more, it emerged that the cell that massacre.3 carried out the attack was linked to AQ’s branch in the Indian No one could deny the involvement subcontinent, Al-Qaeda in Sub- of sectarian groups in the killing. continent (AQIS), formed recently to What wasn’t clear was the exact ward off ISIS’s luring of South Asia’s group behind the attack. militant groups.5

Initial reports pointed towards the A police officer said the accused involvement of Islamic State in Iraq militants established their own group and Syria, popularly known by its in 2014 without naming it. Hence, it acronym ISIS or Arabic translation was referred by the cell leader’s Daish. The group’s sworn ally in name, Tahir Saeen, who ordered Pakistan, Jundullah, based in most of the terrorist activities. His Karachi, was quick to claim second-in-command Saad Aziz, aka responsibility of the attack.4 The Tun Tun or John, masterminded perpetrators of the attacks had also many attacks. The cell’s activities dropped leaflets of the ISIS at the largely revolved around them. spot, displaying their affection to it. Investigators found that the two, like Perhaps because ISIS indulges in many other of the cell’s members, hailed from diverse socio-economic

1 Ismailism is a branch of Shia Islam and 3 Imtiaz Ali, “43 killed in attack on bus commonly known as Seveners which carrying Ismailis in Karachi,” Dawn, May means unlike traditional Shias who 14, 2015. believe in 12 Imams (faith leaders) the 4Faraz Khan, “Macabre violence: Ugly Ismailis believe in seven. face of terror,” Express Tribune, May 14, 2 Salis bin Perwaiz, “Safoora Goth 2015. attackers were inspired by IS,” The News 5 Hafeez Tunio, “Arrested Safoora Goth International, July 2, 2015, attack mastermind behind Sabeen’s http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays- murder,” Express Tribune, May 20, 2015. News-4-326642-Safoora-Goth-attackers- were-inspired-b.

Paper backgrounds with sound educational Members of the group were trained credentials. in bomb manufacture, assassinations, reconnaissance, counter intelligence Anatomy of the cell and counter interrogation. Part of their ‘expertise’ owes to their high The Tahir Saeen group has all the technical education, including in traits of a classic terrorist group: few engineering. Strikingly, their leader members but high expertise. Tahir was a high school dropout.

The group, which was involved in orchestrating more than 15 terrorist attacks in Karachi, has never more than 15-20 members. That was one reason why the cell remained out of the radar of police and other security agencies for a very long period of time. Cell Educational Expertise member background 1 Abdul B. Sc. Engineering Rehman from N.E.D Shujaat Engineering University, Karachi 2 Saad Aziz BBA from Institute of Dealt with Business propaganda; Administration, translated material, Karachi managed pro- 3 Azhar Ishrat B.Sc. Electronic Expertjihadism in Albomb- Engineering from Sir makingRashidun magazine Syed University, Karachi 4 Tahir Matriculate Group’s leader, Minhas involved in planning and executing terror plots 5 Hafiz Nasir Masters in Islamic Involved in planning Studies from and executing terror University of Karachi plots 6 Asadur Graduate Rehman

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The cell was assisted by one female and ISIS’s philosophy, was carried by collaborator Saadia, who is still at the Tahir group, too. large. According to police sources Saadia is wife of a local Al-Qaeda The cell members, following the commander and was tasked for cardinal principle of plausible recruitment of potential jihadis.1 deniability among terror outfits, Some of the other assailants are at deliberately did not know each still not apprehended. other’s real name. Instead, they called each other through aliases. What bound these myriad The group was quite careful in individuals together was strong recruiting new members. That was ideology, reflective in their hatred of one reason the group swelled to a the West and minorities. handful of members during its life span. Some say the cell’s members were either linked to AQ or inspired by it. Subsequent investigations found that Others say the cell wanted to affiliate each one of cell members had with the ISIS.2According to some participated in the Safoora Goth experts, the cell members might be attack, having worked for months on affiliated with Al-Qaeda but because the possibilities of targeting the of the growing popularity of ISIS in community service bus. According to jihadi circles they had ambitions to police, the cell members planned and network their cell with rehearsed for two months and visited ISIS.3Apparently, the cell members the location seven times. They kept were part of Al-Qaeda’s sleeper monitoring the bus passing through network, as at least one member the same route, over and over, and (Tahir Minhas) had personally met finally prepared a map with circling AQ’s top leaders in Afghanistan. points of deployment of cell members. Still, what is established is the group’s belief in the notion of tafkir, The equipment recovered from cell declaring other Muslims apostate. members included TT pistols, That notion, evident in both AQ’s Kalashnikovs, laptops, explosive material, jihad literature, and hit lists of media personnel, fashion

1“Probe reveals involvement of female 2 Imtiaz Ali, “IS-inspired militants behind terror suspect in group behind Safoora Safoora carnage, Sabeen Mahmud incident,” Such TV, June 3, 2015, murder,” Dawn, July 1, 2015. http://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/sindh 3 Author’s interview with Amir Rana, /item/23998-probe-reveals- expert on terrorism and security issues, involvement-of-female-terror-suspect-in- Islamabad. group-behind-safoora-incident.html.

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Paper designers, NGO workers, and law An odd leader enforcement agencies personnel.4 Safoora Goth attack was the Although the group came under the brainchild of cell’s leader Tahir radar after the Safoora Goth incident, Minhas, who apparently seemed an it had masterminded several other odd element in the cell: he hailed attacks in Karachi in recent months from Punjab, unlike many others including targeted assassination of who came from Karachi; and being a NGO worker Sabeen Mehmud in simple matriculate, he was the least April 2015; firing and critically educated of other members. Yet, he wounding American Professor Dr was the cell’s main planner, founder, Debra Lobo in April 2015; suicide and lynchpin. The cell he founded attack on Brigadier Basit of Sindh was in fact known by his name, Tahir Rangers in February 2015 (Brigadier Saeen group.7 Basit narrowly escaped while four others were injured in the attack); Tahir had earlier worked for AQIS grenade attacks on private co- under Jalal, a cousin of Ramzi education institutes in February and Yousaf, the main perpetrator of 1993 March 2015; targeted killing of some World Trade Center bombing, workers of secular political party disclosed a senior Karachi police Muttahida Quami Movement officer.8 Even now, investigators (MQM) and members of Bohra found, Jalal cell of AQ exists, most community;5 and bomb attacks on probably in Baloch-populated Lyari police patrolling parties and targeted area of Karachi. Tahir Saeen formed killing of police personnel in at least his own cell, after breaking from Jalal five different locations in the city.6 cell.9

Tahir’s connections with Al-Qaeda dated back to 1990s. Much before the 9/11 attacks, he visited Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, where, besides getting trained at AQ-run camps, he

4 Hafeez Tunio, “Arrested Safoora attack 6HafeezTunio, “Arrested Safoora Goth mastermind behind Sabeer’s murder: mastermind behind Sabeen’s murder.” Sindh CM,” Express Tribune, May 20, 7 Salis bin Perwaiz, “Safoora Goth 2015. attackers were inspired by IS,” The News 5 “Umar Kaathio Al-Qaeda Sindh's head, International, June 2, 2015. reveal Safoora terrorists,” Dunya News, 8 Ibid. June 22, 2015, 9 Imtiaz Ali, “Safoora bus attack suspects http://dunyanews.tv/index.php/en/Pa wanted to establish their links with IS,” kistan/285507-Umar-Kaathio-AlQaeda- Dawn, July 2, 2015, Sindhs-head-reveal-Safoora. http://www.dawn.com/news/1191674.

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Tahir Saeen Group: Higher-Degree Militants personally met AQ’s leader Osama coming close to police. According to Bin Laden and ideologue Ayman al- Karachi police, Tahir has been Zawahiri several times.10 involved in terrorist activities since 1998 and acquired special expertise A veteran jihadi, Tahir was in contact in using Rocket Propelled Grenade with AQ’s Pakistani leaders, (RPG). including the emir of Sindh province, Umar Kaathio, a resident of Kotri After the Safoora Goth attacks, he district. Minhas says that he joined was finally arrested from Al-Qaeda on Kaathio’s advice.11 The Bahawalpur, southern Punjab.14 two had even worked in Hyderabad district. Second-in-command

It was in Hyderabad that Tahir Saad Aziz, a Karachite, was highly started colluding with Saad Aziz, educated, with upper-class-urban and launched terror attacks at police family background. Unlike Minhas, parties and killed seven police Aziz was born and raised in Karachi officers, three members of Bohri to an educated Punjabi family long community, and three workers settled in Karachi. His father, himself MQM.12 In 2006, in Hyderabad, a business graduate, had worked for Minhas was arrested for killing a a multinational corporation Unilever Hindu boy but later released in 2009 as Executive Director, in Karachi. and shifted to Karachi.13 Aziz did his O-levels from Beacon When he had first come to Karachi, House School and A-levels from he faced difficulty in recruiting Lyceum School, both elite schools in people. Eventually, with the support Karachi. Saad qualified the highly- of Hafiz Nasir, a Jamaat-e-Islami competitive entry exam of the member, Tahir managed to form his country’s leading business school, cell, which conducted score of the Institute of Business terrorist activities, without even

10 Hafeez Tunio, “Arrested Safoora attack kistan/285507-Umar-Kaathio-AlQaeda- mastermind behind Sabeer’s murder: Sindhs-head-reveal-Safoora. Sindh CM,” Express Tribune, May 20, 12 Ibid. 2015; “Pakistan’s educated jihadis,” 13 Ibid. Deutsche Welle, May 22, 2015, 14 Naimat Khan, “Killers of Ismailis, http://www.dw.com/en/pakistans- Sabeen arrested Al-Qaeda network of educated-jihadists/a-18467631. graduates behind Safoora, Mahmud's 11 “Umar Kaathio Al-Qaeda Sindh's head, killings,” Frontier Post, reveal Safoora terrorists,” Dunya News, http://www.thefrontierpost.com/article June 22, 2015, print/300418/killers-of-ismailis-sabeen- http://dunyanews.tv/index.php/en/Pa arrested-al-qaeda-network-of-graduates- behind-safoora-mahmud-s-killings.

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Administration (IBA),15 in Bachelor splinter group, a mixture of al Qaeda of Business Administration, which he and Hizbut Tahrir. Hizbut Tahrir is completed in 2011.1617 not violent, but this group is using their ideology and literature.”18 At the IBI, initially, he was a usual undergraduate student. He was fond The Society organizes guest lecture at of football, had girl friends, and hung the IBA where Islamist speakers are out with friends on regular basis. His invited to speak about the Muslim grades in the first two years were way of life.19 The Society appears to reasonably good, too. But then, mid- be thoroughly Islamist, as reflected in ways, Saad drifted towards its vision, which “attempt[s] to radicalization. Slowly and gradually, establish the realization among the he disconnected himself from all of students of IBA that Islam is not his previous friends. merely a religion, but the complete code of life and provides us with the It emerged that Saad was coming best solution for our every sphere of under the influence of Iqra Society at life including our academics and the the IBA, a religious reading and corporate world.”20 discussion group. Disconnected with old friends, Saad maintained contacts Among their past events, according with his new friends. to its website, the Society raised the plight of jailed Islamist terrorist Dr Iqra Society’s role in radicalizing him Afia Siddiqui and highlighted her has been ignored by the law- case at their forum, where former enforcement bodies. British journalist Mariam Ridley also spoke. Mariam, formerly Yvonne From its website, the Society seems a Ridley, had converted to Islam after look-alike of Hizbut Tahrir, which her captivity by Taliban in 2001 and promotes Islamist values amongst became an outspoken supporter of the educated, liberal, and affluent Taliban and Al-Qaeda. According to students. As Deputy Inspector the Society’s website, Ridley later General of Police, Karachi South, visited Fouzia Siddiqui, sister of Dr said, “Al Qaeda subcontinent is a Afia, at her house in Karachi.21 For its

15 Current President of Pakistan 18 “Good degrees and Kalashnikovs,” Mamnoon Hussain and former Prime Express Tribune, May 21, 2015. Minister Shaukat Aziz studied at IBA 19Sidrah Roghay, “The many shades of Karachi. Saad Aziz,” The Friday Times, June 5, 16 “Saad Aziz confesses to Sabeen's 2015. murder for holding Valentine's Day 20Official website of IBA Iqra Society, rally,” Express Tribune, May 22, 2015. http://iqra.iba.edu.pk/aboutus.html. 17Author’s discussions with IBA students. 21Official website of IBA Iqra Society, http://iqra.iba.edu.pk/events.html.

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Tahir Saeen Group: Higher-Degree Militants apparent links with former members jihad training too, “he went of Jamaat-e-Islami such as Fouzia somewhere for a few months. Siddiqui, the Society appears to be a Someone said he had gone for jihad conduit of Jamaat’s student wing at training.”25 the IBA Karachi, where, otherwise, student politics is strictly prohibited. Commenting on Saad’s transformation, one of his former During his stay with the Society, he schoolmates from Lyceum days translated anti-Shia sect hate wrote: speeches of Haq Nawaz Jhangvi, the founder of anti-Shia organization “Saad never had a group. He could be Sipah-e-Sahaba in late 1980s. He gave seen floating from one group of Jhangvi’s speech the title “The men friends to another, never really who rocked Kufr.”22 seeming like he belonged to any one in particular. He tried his luck on the ‘dabo’ board, spent a few weeks on Aziz’s sectarian overture also runs the foosball table and even attempted through the Society’s magazine, Al- to join the drama gang, but he Rashideen too, which he, along with remained on the periphery…The eight others, edited and published at extremists may able to offer him the IBA. Introducing the first issue of something that our schooling system the magazine, he termed it a was unable to: a group of people “platform where relevant issues where we felt valued, where we have 26 facing the Ummah are studied and purpose.” analysed upon by students of Aziz alongside cell’s Emir Tahir colleges and universities, and Minhas planned and executed Muslim youngsters whose first or terrorist attacks. Saad’s grasp over second language is English.”23 English language, sound educational background and being a local Iqra Society exposed Saad to the writings of ultra-radical Islamist Karachite gave him an advantage ideologue Sayyid Qutb. Saad once over other cell members. He was more interested in targeting asked his friend, “Have you read Milestones by Sayyid Qutb? It has westerners and westernized Pakistanis (which he himself was changed my life.”24 His friends even believe that Saad might have gone to once).

22 Ibid 25 “Saad Aziz confesses to Sabeen’s 23 “Good degrees and Kalashnikovs,” murder for holding Valentine’s Day Express Tribune, May 21, 2015. rally,” Express Tribune, May 22, 2015. 24Naeem Sahoutara, “Eyewitness 26 Shehzad Ghais, “My friend from IBA, identifies Saad Aziz as American an extremist?,” Express Tribune, May 27, professor’s primary shooter,” Express 2015. Tribune, June 27, 2015.

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In April 2015, for instance, he moreover, he owned a restaurant The planned and executed the attack on Cactus at a posh locality, Sindhi Debra Lobo, an American professor Muslim Housing Society in at Karachi’s Jinnah Dental College.27 Karachi.30 She was critically injured in the attack. Conclusion

His other target didn’t survive: “He was a very hardworking Sabeen Mehmud, Director of The child and passed with good Second Floor (T2F), who publicly grades. It is troubling to know condemned religious extremism, was that terrorist thoughts and shot five times.28 Aziz confessed of ideologies have also managed to the murder, saying, affect youngsters with good education and decent parentage.”31 “We shot her for holding a Valentine’s Day rally. … My friend was riding the These were the words of a teacher of motorcycle but I was sitting at Saad, a key member of the cell. Like the back and I shot her. … When Saad, others belonged to urban upper she sat in the car after her class with sound professional Balochistan seminar [which she education. Once again, it forces had hosted], I followed her and policy makers to revisit the when her car stopped at Sunset assumptions made on terrorism and Boulevard signal I shot her. … education. We followed her for days and gathered information on her To recall, in the past too, it was AQ before killing her.”29 that had links with terrorists having higher degrees. Examples include Despite adhering to militant Islamist “Doctors Cell” of Dr Akmal Waheed ideology, working with his Al- and Dr Arshad Waheed in Karachi, Qaeda-linked cell fellows and “Ata-ur-Rehman-led Jundullah” in personally involved in high profile Karachi, and “Hammad Adil Cell” of Islamist terrorist attacks, he Islamabad. Tahir Saeen cell seems maintained a regular routine life. He like another such cell. got married after completing his education and had a daughter;

27 “Saad Aziz confesses of murdering 29 “Saad Aziz confesses to Sabeen’s policeman,” Express Tribune, June 17, murder for holding Valentine’s Day 2015. rally,” Express Tribune, May 22, 2015. 28 “Director T2F Sabeen Mehmud shot 30Sidrah Roghay, “The many shades of dead in Karachi,” Dawn, April 25, 2015. Saad Aziz,” The Friday Times, June 5, 2015. 31 Ibid.

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This should force researchers and In the near future, such cell-like policymakers to study and analyse structure may become headache for the changing nature of Islamist law enforcement investigators in militants in urban centres like near future. Karachi, Islamabad and Hyderabad. What appears is that A-Qaeda, which That the Tahir Saeen Cell, which has started off from a highly centralized been working in Karachi and structure, is turning more and more Hyderabad for at least two years, was decentralized, resulting into its finally busted by the local police sleeper cells. makes a strong case for better intelligence-led proactive policing. Other terrorism-ravaged countries like Germany, France, Italy and United Kingdom, largely rely on their police forces.

Urban terrorism can be tackled by providing high-quality surveillance equipment to police force rather than by relying on other non-investigative security bodies.

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Paper Silk route monitor A review of developments on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor

Safdar Sial and Peer Muhammad

 Safdar Hussain, nom de plume Safdar Sial, is Joint Director at PIPS and Associate Editor of Conflict and Peace Studies journal. He has also co-authored ‘Dynamics of Taliban Insurgency in FATA’ and ‘Radicalization in Pakistan’. Peer Muhammad is a reporter with The Express Tribune, covering issues related to political economy of the country.

uring Chinese President’s visit Secondly, it will open up trade routes D to Pakistan in April this year, for China and Pakistan to Middle both countries signed several East and Central Asia. Thirdly, the agreements including those linked to corridor could also improve China-Pakistan Economic Corridor prospects for regional economic (CPEC). CPEC is one component, interdependence as well as for peace albeit a major one, of an investment and stability. understanding between the two countries, worth of $45 billion. For Pakistan, two key imperatives or According to preliminary compulsions of the emerging understanding, Chinese banks and regional dynamics in that context are companies will provide soft loans to work for establishing friendly and grants to Pakistan to develop its relations with its neighbours and infrastructures and undertake energy achieving security and stability in the and communication projects, along country and wider region. the corridor’s track.1 It is proposed that around a dozen industrial zones Pakistan’s refusal to send its troops to will be set up from Khunjerab in the Yemen, which would have annoyed north to Gwadar in the south. The a neighbour Iran, and efforts to government anticipates creation of contribute towards political economic opportunities in the next reconciliation in Afghanistan can be four to five years, besides alleviating seen as major steps towards Pakistan’s energy woes. achieving fulfilling the first imperative. With regard to the Political and strategic analysts are second imperative, the country has describing CPEC as a game changer been actively engaged in countering for Pakistan and wider region in terrorism, particularly since July last many ways. First, the corridor will year when the military operation significantly contribute towards Zarb-e-Azb was launched. The action Pakistan’s social and economic gained an impetus after the development. Besides establishing December 2014 terrorist attack on an huge road and rail infrastructure, the army-run school in Peshawar. CPEC projects will also address Pakistan has taken some CPEC- Pakistan’s lingering power crisis.

1Dawn, Islamabad, May 1, 2015.

Paper specific measures as well, which will also tries to assess government’s be described later. efforts to address those challenges and to ensure the implementation of This report reviews recent CPEC- the CPEC projects according to linked developments, mainly on stipulated timeframe. political, security, socio-cultural and developmental fronts. Apart from discussing key challenges, the report Figure 1: A sketch of CPEC projects (Source: Express Tribune, May 27, 2015)

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Silk route monitor: a review of developments on CPEC

1. Political response towards pass through many parts of CPEC Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, apparently with a Even before the visit of Chinese view to benefit Punjab. President to Pakistan in April and  As the new route is largely both countries’ signing of aligned in Punjab, the CPEC- agreements related to China- linked industrial zones will also Pakistan Economic Corridor, the be established in Punjab project had generated controversy in Pakistan, with political leaders discriminating other provinces. particularly of smaller provinces  Federal government only invited alleging that the original route of the Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz corridor has been altered to benefit Sharif, younger brother of prime Punjab. Pakistan Muslim League- minister, in the meetings and Nawaz (PML-N), which currently visits related to CPEC, and rules at the centre and in Punjab, was strongly criticized, particularly by ignored other chief ministers. political leaders and parties of  As security is also a Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and responsibility of provinces, Balochistan. Some of the general federal government did not allegations put on the PML-N discuss with provinces about government and also perceptions how to ensure security of the about the CPEC were as under: CPEC projects and Chinese and  Manifesting a secretive local workers. approach, the government does It was against this backdrop that the not seem willing to share its federal government tried to reach out plans and policies on the CPEC to political parties in and outside with governments and political parliament to address their concerns leaderships of other provinces and evolve a consensus on the CPEC except Punjab. As a result, the project. Apart from holding government has failed to individual consultations with properly communicate with representatives of political parties smaller provinces and take them and issuing repeated statements, the into confidence on the project. government also held two all-party  The government has changed the conferences (APCs). During the original (western) route of the second APC held on May 28, all corridor, which was designed to

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Paper political parties gave a go-ahead to  “The third (eastern) route will the CPEC project. While it was include Gwadar, Basima, decided in the first APC to establish a Khuzdar, Sukkur, Rahimyar parliamentary committee to oversee Khan, Bahawalpur, Multan and the progress on CPEC projects, it was Lahore/Faisalabad and then decided in the second that western reach Islamabad.” route that passes through main areas of Balochistan and Khyber According to details revealed on Pakhtunkhwa provinces will be Planning Commission’s website, all constructed first. provincial capitals are included in the CPEC as nodes. These nodes, which On repeated requests by political are the key cornerstones on which the parties to explain the planned routes corridor will be constructed, are at of the CPEC, Federal Minister for Peshawar, Islamabad, Lahore, Planning, National Reforms and Sukkar, Karachi, Gwadar and Development Ahsan Iqbal described Quetta.2 the three routes as following:1 As mentioned earlier, almost all  “The western route originating parties expressed their satisfaction on from Gwadar will pass through government’s stance on the CPEC in Turbat, Panjgur, Nag, Basima, the May 28 all-party conference. It Sorab, Kalat, Quetta, Qilla was indeed a big achievement. One Saifullah and Zhob and reach can only hope that that political Dera Ismail Khan before leading consensus is not short-lived. There to Islamabad.” are however certain factors that will influence and determine political  “The second (central) route will response of parties and provinces originate from Gwadar and reach towards the CPEC in future. These Dera Ismail Khan via Basima, factors are described below: Khuzdar, Sukkur, Rajanpur, Layyah, Muzaffargarh and i. Implementation of the projects Bhakkar.” on the three CPEC routes will

1 “Ahsan reveals three routes of development – not lines of divide,” corridor,” Dawn, Islamabad, May 15, Express Tribune, Islamabad, May 18, 2015. 2015. 2 Shahbaz Rana, “China-Pakistan Economic Corridor: Lines of

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determine whether or not all security, politics, and political provinces are satisfied with the economy or NFC awards,4 could corridor progress. If political also impact the future of political parties and leaders from small consensus achieved on the provinces feel that budgetary CPEC. At the moment, allocations and implementation significant political tensions exist are more oriented towards the between federal government and eastern route and that other two main political parties of routes are being ignored, they Sindh, i.e. Muttahida Qaumi could again start protesting. Movement (MQM) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). Pakistan ii. It will also be important to see Tehrik-i-Insaaf (PTI) that rules in how the announced Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is the parliamentary committee for the main rival party of the PML-N CPEC oversight is established ruling at centre and in Punjab. and functions. Analysts Although the provincial described the agreement as a government of Balochistan is positive move and noted that if currently at good terms with the the proposed committee PML-N-led federal government, becomes an active forum, it will but the province’s relationship certainly help address the with Islamabad and security concerns of all the provinces and establishment has always political parties. Nonetheless, remained uneasy. A feeling some feared that “a non- among Balochistan’s functional oversight committee government and political parties will also be detrimental for that Gwadar and CPEC projects policy and the execution are not benefitting their province sustainability of the CPEC and Baloch people, could put project.”3 those parties in opposition to these projects. If that happens, it iii. Federal government’s relations will also strengthen Baloch with provinces, mainly those linked to aspects of internal

3 Muhammad Amir Rana, “Economic 4 As per Constitution, NFC awards corridor challenges,” Dawn, Islamabad, formulate financial formulas of economic May 17, 2015. distribution to provincial and federal government for five consecutive years.

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insurgents’ anti-mega projects smooth implementation of stance. CPEC. Pakistani army is extensively engaged in iv. Political culture in Pakistan has counterterrorism operations and not yet matured, which could needs civilian support for that. create a crisis in the country at After the announcement of any point of time. In recent times, National Action Plan (NAP), we have seen episodes of military’s role in internal security political immaturity creating a policy has increased. Military is political turmoil. Political also concerned about what it says protests and sit-ins organized by ‘political problems’ hindering the PTI and a religious cleric the implementation of NAP. Tahirul Qadri against the Nonetheless, there is a growing government in Islamabad during perception in Sindh and last year are one example of that. Balochistan that military is Also, a culture of political overstepping its constitutional intolerance is growing in role and interfering in matters of Pakistan as it was evident in civilian administrations there. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s local government elections held on May 30, 2015. The elections Following pages describe political entailed a string of incidents of reactions of different political parties political violence among towards the China-Pakistan members and workers of Economic Corridor expressed in political parties contesting these recent months, and how the federal elections. As many as 12 government addressed their incidents of political and concerns and created an environment election-related violence claimed of political agreement on the CPEC 22 lives and injured 68 others, project. just in three days.5 1.1 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa v. Finally, civil-military relations will also account for sustained Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-based political political stability in the country, parties vociferously opposed the which is fundamental for the project’s proposed route through

5 Statistics are based on Pak Institute for Peace Studies’ database on security.

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Silk route monitor: a review of developments on CPEC eastern Pakistan, arguing that the prosperity or destruction?”7 Later, he original route was meant to pass argued that the federal government through the western part of the was trying to include Lahore, country, from Balochistan and KP. Punjab’s capital, in the CPEC: The Awami National Party (ANP) “Lahore was not part of the original and the Qaumi Wattan Party (QWP) corridor project, but the federal in particular expressed their government is making way to reservation on what they thought include it in the project at the cost of was alteration in the route. militancy-stricken KP and Balochistan.”8 The ANP was on the forefront and even went to the extent of saying that Meanwhile, an ANP delegation, led it will protest against a change in the by Mian Iftikhar, had a detailed CPEC route like it has been meeting with political leaders in protesting against Kalabagh Dam. Balochistan, warning that should the The party head said he was ready to route change, the federal government be better tagged as a ‘traitor’ than will bear responsibility for any compromise on the rights of his unrest.9 people. The party believed, at least until its concerns were addressed by ANP leaders believed that the PPP, the government, that PML-N leading opposition party, was also government wanted to give toeing the government’s line on the maximum benefit of CPEC to Punjab. project. By changing the route to the “Punjab is political constituency of eastern side, the dividends will be PML-N. The party is in minority in felt in Sindh, PPP’s bastion, they other provinces. That is why it wants argued. CPEC to benefit most Punjab,” ANP leaders were quoted by media as Similarly, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl saying.6 (JUI-F) chief Fazlur Rehman frequently issued statements against Addressing a multi-party conference, the alleged change in the route and against the alteration in the route, in said the government was responsible Quetta, ANP’s chief Asfandyar Wali for making the CPEC controversial. Khan said, “The problem is in Islamabad. When Pashtun and Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf (PTI) of Baloch prosper, is that Pakistan’s Imran Khan, which rules in Khyber

6 BBC Urdu, April 20, 2015, 8Dawn, May 24, 2015, http://www.bbc.com/urdu/pakistan/2 http://www.dawn.com/news/1183913 015/04/150420_ahsan_china_agreement /inclusion-of-lahore-in-corridor-route- _sq?ocid=socialflow_facebook. to-be-resisted-asfandyar. 7Express Tribune, Islamabad, May 16, 9Dawn, Islamabad, May 1, 2015. 2015.

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Pakhtunkhwa, also protested against PTI chief Imran Khan said while a change in the CPEC route. KP Chief addressing journalists at the Minister Pervez Khattak said in a inauguration ceremony of a girls’ press conference on April 22: “We school in Peshawar on May 26 that will launch a legal as well as political changes in the route would weaken battle if the federal government the federation as less developed changed the original route of the regions of the country would be left PCEC.”10 He asked the federal behind. “Changes in the corridor are government to share details of the likely to stoke hatred of Punjab in agreements and MoUs signed with other provinces,” he argued.13 Imran China. Mr Khattak said KP had huge Khan also said on May 15 that potential for hydel power generation, Gwadar-China [original] route of the but the federal government preferred CPEC should be constructed first, as coal, wind or solar energy in the it is the shortest and would help CPEC’s power projects. He reduce economic burden on big complained that projects worth $11 cities.14 billion would be set up in Punjab, and KP would get only $2.7bn Nationalist elements in KP also projects, while it deserved three resisted the alleged change in the times more. He also expressed CPEC route. A conference was serious reservations over the organized in that regard by presence everywhere of the prime Pakhtunkhwa Ulasi Tehreek in minister’s brother and Punjab Chief Peshawar press club on April 12. Minister Shahbaz Sharif during the Representatives of political parties visit of the Chinese president.11 (mainly ANP, PTI, and QWP) and activists of civil society and trade A PTI leader Asad Umar noted that bodies participated. Participants took the government intended to carry out serious notice of the federal power generation projects under the government’s proposed plan to CPEC in KP, but the head of the divert the CPEC route and provincial energy board was not constituted a committee to take up invited to any of the many meetings the issue with Senate chairman and held far that.12 Chinese government.15 The Ulasi Tehreek also organized a seminar in

10 Zulfiqar Ali, “KP warns of protests if 13Express Tribune, Islamabad, May 27, Pak-China corridor route changes,” 2015. Dawn, Islamabad, April 23, 2015. 14Express Tribune, Islamabad, May 15, 11 Ibid. 2015. 12 Khawar Ghumman, “Parliament 15“Any change in Economic Corridor watch: Is better PR the solution to PML- route opposed,” The News, Islamabad, N’s corridor problems?," Dawn, May 15, April 3, 2015. 2015.

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DI Khan titled “Kashgar-Gwadar Balochistan CM also said on May 3 Economic Corridor” on April 19. that he was not taken into confidence Representatives of different political by anyone with regards to CPEC and parties participated and vowed to he was not aware of the CPEC oppose the CPEC if government did route(s).18 He reiterated his stance not abandon the plan to change the while addressing a press conference route of the project.16 in Lahore on May 17: “The CPEC is not just a route… it has multiple 1.2 Balochistan aspects. It includes the Gwadar port, roads, railway tracks, energy projects Balochistan is the least developed and industrialization (along the province of Pakistan. Many claim corridor) and it should be ensured 19 that if the CPEC and Gwadar port that Baloch people benefit from it.” projects ignore Baloch people and the development of the province, it On April 21, lawmakers in the would be difficult to counter the Balochistan Assembly denounced appeal of Baloch insurgent ‘modifications in the Gwadar- movements that propagate that Kashgar route’ and threatened to federal government wants to capture hold indefinite protest sit-in in Balochistan’s resources. Islamabad if federal government’s ‘biased policy’ continued to ignore 20 This concern was frequently raised Balochistan in the CPEC project. The by Balochistan’s Chief Minister original route, they claimed, passed Abdul Malik Baloch. “Whether it is through major parts of Balochistan Gwadar port or CPEC roads, it is including Khuzdar, Quetta and essential that the people of Zhob. Lawmakers however noted Balochistan first benefit from these that the CPEC is a positive projects. If that does not happen, development but “presence of people of Balochistan will not Punjab CM in functions gave an support Gwadar and CPEC-related impression that agreements were development projects,” he said in an being signed between Lahore and interview with BBC Urdu.17 Beijing and not federation of Pakistan and China.” They said that Balochistan government was not

16The News, Islamabad, April 20, 2015. 19 Meeran Khan, “Reconciliation plan sent 17 BBC Urdu, April 20, 2015, to Centre: Dr Malik,” The News, http://www.bbc.com/urdu/pakistan/2 Islamabad, May 18, 2015. 015/04/150420_ahsan_china_agreement 20 Amanullah Kasi, “MPAs criticize _sq?ocid=socialflow_facebook. change in economic corridor route,” 18 Syed Ali Shah, “Balochistan CM says Dawn, Islamabad, April 22, 2015. not taken into confidence on Pak-China corridor,” Dawn, Islamabad, May 4, 2015.

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Paper consulted although the main strike was observed in parts of agreements that were signed during Quetta on May 6 to protest the Chinese president’s visit were linked alleged change in route of the to Gwadar seaport.21 Balochistan CPEC.24 Assembly had also adopted a unanimous resolution on February Another non-government multi- 28 against perceived modification of party conference was held on CPEC the CPEC route. in Quetta on May 16. The conference welcomed the corridor as a game Like in KP, the Balochistan chapter of changer for the region but opposed ANP also repeatedly opposed any any change in its original route that change in the original design of the passes through northern parts of CPEC route and warned that the Balochistan and southern districts of development plan would become Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Politicians controversial if ANP’s demand was from PPP, PTI, PML-Q, JUI-F, JUI-S ignored. The ANP made the demand (Sami-ul Haq faction), Jamaat-e- in a resolution passed at a public Islami, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami meeting held at the hockey ground in Party, National Party, Balochistan Quetta on April 28.22 National Party and Hazara Democratic Party attended the A multi-party conference was held in conference convened by the ANP. Quetta on April 29 at the office of JUI- The ruling Pakistan Muslim League- N (Nazriati faction of JUI) that Nawaz, however, stayed away from announced to hold protests across the conference.25 Participants noted Balochistan on May 5 and shutter- that only $2 billion have been down strike on May 6 to oppose the provided to Balochistan in the $45 proposed change in the CPEC route. billion Pak-China agreements. The APC constituted a 12-member committee to meet Prime Minister Balochistan’s nationalist leaders also Nawaz Sharif and Chinese have concerns about the ambassador to resolve the issues demographic change that the mega with dialogue. JUI-F, ANP, Pakistan projects like Gwadar and CPEC Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) could bring in the province. They Balochistan, PPP, and have been raising their voice against representatives of traders association non-Baloch settlements in Gwadar. participated.23 Later, a shutter-down Baloch insurgents also frequently

21 Ibid. 24Express Tribune, Islamabad, May 7, 22 Amanullah Kasi, “ANP opposes 2015. change in route of corridor,” Dawn, 25 Muhammad Zafar, “APC opposes Islamabad, April 29, 2015. detours in economic corridor route,” 23Express Tribune, Islamabad, April 30, Express Tribune, Islamabad, May 17, 2015. 2015.

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Silk route monitor: a review of developments on CPEC attack non-Baloch workers and affect Sindh. Karachi and parts of settlers in the province. A prominent interior Sindh remain parts of leader of ruling National Party (NP) different CPEC projects. Hasil Bizenjo was reported by media to have said in the May 28 APC The PPP participated in almost all chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz meetings and multi-party Sharif that with more investment conferences held by political parties coming into Balochistan under the on the CPEC. At the same, its leaders CPEC, more non-Baloch will come to mainly the party chief and former Balochistan in search of jobs, president Asif Ali Zardari tried to squeezing the Baloch population convince political leaders that they further.26 should not make the CPEC controversial. Also, the party asked Hasil Bizenjo also presided over a the government to address genuine two-day meeting of NP’s Central concerns of political parties. Committee in Quetta on May 25-26, which was attended by Chief Mr Zardari hosted leaders of political Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch, parties at a dinner in Islamabad on senators, MNAs, MPAs and April 23 reportedly to create a broad- members of the party from the four based political ownership of the provinces. Participants sought a 50 CPEC. The government percent share for Balochistan in the representatives, present in the Gwadar Port Authority and meeting, assured that the prime announced that a committee would minister will take all parties and be formed to draft legislation for provinces into confidence on the claiming revenue to be generated CPEC project.28 from the CPEC in the province.27 Later on April 26,Zardari said in 1.3 Sindh Karachi while addressing a large party rally that the PPP would not Main political parties of Sindh allow the Chinese investment including PPP and MQM although coming under the CPEC projects to welcomed the CPEC projects but also become a victim of political point- raised voice in support of KP and scoring and there would be no Balochistan’s concerns about the politics or opposition on the subject corridor. Apparently, the alleged of Chinese investment coming to change in the CPEC route did not Pakistan. “The incoming investment

26Dawn, May 29, 2015, taking Balochistan govt on board,” http://www.dawn.com/news/1184917. Dawn, May 27, 2015. 27 Saleem Shahid, “China-Pakistan 28Asim Yasin, “Zardari paving way for corridor: NP criticizes centre for not Pak-China corridor,” The News, Islamabad, April 24, 2015.

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Paper will secure future of coming generations of Pakistan,” he Political and community leaders and argued.29 He, however, held out the people of Gilgit Baltistan (GB) assurance that all the fears and welcome the idea of CPEC in their reservations of the Pashtun and area, but complain that their Baloch communities on the CPEC concerns and interests have not been would be addressed in accordance taken into account. They desire of with the Constitution. more direct participation in steering the project. In their conversation with 1.4 Gilgit Baltistan one of the authors, Peer Muhammad, local stakeholders reminded that It is at Gilgit Baltistan that Pakistan despite the project’s direct connects with China. GB and its significance for the GB, the federal capital Gilgit, therefore, will be the government didn’t take the area’s gateway of the corridor. When it people and their representatives into comes to Gilgit Baltistan, below are confidence. The region’s top political two key corridor-related initiatives: representative is the Chief Minister of Gilgit Baltistan. Yet, several noted, 1. The existing Karakorum unlike Punjab’s or Balochistan’s CM, Highway (KKH) will be Gilgit Baltistan’s CM was never expanded, from the border point invited to the internal meeting on the project nor was he taken to China for at China to Islamabad. A portion discussing and signing of the MoUs of the KKH has already been in the past two years. One noted that expanded from Khunjerab, GB, many came to know about the to Thakot, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. project only after the Chinese About 500 km of this expanded President’s visit.30 highway falls under GB, from After the visit of Chinese president to Khunjerab to Kohistan. Pakistan, an amalgamation of all GB- 2. A 700-km long railway track will based political and religious parties, be laid from Kashgar, China’s the Awami Action Party (ACC), bordering city, to Islamabad, convened a special All Parties Pakistan’s capital. Again, this Conference in Hunza Aliabad, on track will go through GB. April 26. Participants expressed serious concern that the federal

29 Azeem Samar, “Politics won’t be 30 Peer Muhammad’s interview with allowed on Chinese investment: Shahid Ashraf Tarrar, chairman NHA, Zardari,” The News, Islamabad, April 27, May 29, 2015. (The NHA is the leading 2015. executing agency of motorway projects under the CPEC).

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Silk route monitor: a review of developments on CPEC government had completely Self-Governance Rule, 2009. The neglected the GB’s leadership on the area’s politicians therefore wondered CPEC, to pass through GB. They if the federal government can use the territory for an international project, demanded that the government at all. declare special economic zones in GB under the project, to compensate Any major investment involving GB, those affected by it. The conference with an undecided constitutional linked the project with the status, can cost the region constitutional rights of GB and said economically and politically.32 without fulfilling this demand, the Already, partly because of this status, the region continues to rank lower in project will not be allowed to the socio-economic development 31 implement through GB. ladder of the country.

Members of GB Council officially Local stakeholders believe that if wrote to the Minister for Planning Gilgit Baltistan is given proper and Development Mr. Ahsan Iqbal constitutional status like much of the for a briefing so that they too are on rest of the country, they could raise board. However, the minister has so their voice in support of their rights far not answered the demand. at national forums ( such as NFC and Council of Common Interests) and Some see the corridor having impact therefore could get more benefits on the GB’s constitutional status, a from projects such as the CPEC. state of limbo. GB is awarded special status in the Constitution of Pakistan, Some said if the project fails to dissimilar to the ones granted to engage youth, and rather render Pakistan’s four provinces. Until them jobless, several of them can be recently, the area was known as exploited towards radicalization.33 Federally Administered Northern Some pointed that should the area Areas (FANA). Instead of not be accommodated in the CPEC, administering the region through the the possibility that the areas’ youth constitution, as most of the rest of the may rise [against it] cannot be country is, GB is governed through denied. Under such a circumstance, Gilgit Baltistan Empowerment and young people can be used in the

31Daily Bang-e-Sahar (Urdu), Gilgit- and former GB Council member, Gilgit, Baltistan, April 2015. http://www.bangesahar.net/popup.ph 33.Peer Muhammad’s interview with p?r_date=04-27-2015&img=04-27- political analyst Aziz Ali Dad on 2015page-1-10. telephone. 32Peer Muhammad’s interview with Advocate Amjad Hussain, a PPP leader

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Paper hands of saboteurs to destabilize the containers transiting annually project.34 A few made a reference to through the border, the trade volume how exploitation of resources in fell in the range of PKR 2.5 billion to Balochistan resulted into a 3 billion. Many, therefore, fear that movement there in past. This, they the vibrancy of Sost Dry Port will said, can create insecurity too. The further diminish after the completion local insecurity, however, they said, of the CPEC project.36 Bypassing this can be overcome by satisfying the dry port means denying livelihoods locals about their share in the to the area’s 5,000 traders, project.35 businessmen, transporters, hoteliers and labourers.37 The authors observed that the dominant economic concern in GB Former finance minister of GB was that once the corridor project is Legislative Assembly Mirza Hussain completed, with rail track and argued that if the rapid train service motorways laid down, the existing is directly linked from Kashgar economic trade activities of GB’s (China) to Havalian (KP, Pakistan), people with China’s will halt. the project is a disaster for the existing economic and commercial As cargo trains will depart from activities in GB. The future for GB is China to the proposed dry port in bleak, Hussain, who is also a leading Havalian directly, located in Khyber trader, argued. GB, he said, will be Pakhtunkhwa, the existing Sost Dry used to tread rails and trucks, the Port will turn useless. goods of which will be uploaded in China and reach to Havalian, As of now, annual trade with China bypassing GB.38 via Khunjerab stands at PKR 1.5 billion, with 700 to 800 containers Although the Karakorum Highway passing through the border. Over has been expanded, as discussed 5000 people from GB are involved, above, the highway will draw less directly or indirectly, with the attraction in the presence of the fast Chinese trade through the Sost Dry train service. Traders will prefer the Port. The trade volume was even train service due to less higher before a natural disaster transportation costs. The train, on shook Attabad in 2010. With 4,000 which goods will be loaded in

34 Peer Muhammad’s interview with 36Peer Muhammad’s interview with former Finance Minister GB Legislative Javed Hussain, president of GB Chamber Assembly Mirza Hussain, Nager, April of Commerce and Industry, Gilgit, May 2015. 2015. 35Peer Muhammad’s interview with 37 Ibid. Inayatullah Shumali, Caretaker 38Peer Muhammad’s interview with Information Minister of GB, Chillas. Mirza Hussain.

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China’s Xinjiang province, will snake minister frequently issued through mountains and tunnels, statements to dispel the leaving nothing for the GB territory. impression that the route of CPEC is being changed. Federal GB leaders and people are also concerned that the government has Minister Ahsan Iqbal told BBC not planned to establish any trade or Urdu in April that the CPEC industrial zone in the GB. Only then alignment passing though will the CPEC shower benefits upon Balochistan and KP will be GB, as other parts of the country. completed first. The minister also Some said that the corridor terminal provided details about the three be established in Gilgit. planned routes of the CPEC Locals fear that the construction of including eastern, western and motorways and railway tracks in the central.40 area will decrease landholding of the people, who would be forced to settle  Ahsan Iqbal again told the elsewhere. A conference, attended by National Assembly on April 29 in political leaders and community a policy statement that there was representatives of Hunza, Nager and no plan to change the CPEC Gujal on April 26, as cited earlier, demanded the federal government to route and all three routes were immediately announce a special being constructed package under the CPEC demand simultaneously.41 Later, on May that the government declare special 11, Ahsan stated: “I assure you economic zones in GB under the that I will quit and not defend project, to compensate those affected [the decision] if someone could by it.39 prove that the route, as agreed on 1.5 Government efforts to July 5, 2013 [during the PM’s visit 42 achieve political consensus to China], has been changed.”   Leaders of the ruling PML-N Government frequently assured including ministers and prime leaders of political parties that

39Daily Bang-e-Sahar (Urdu), Gilgit- 2015/04/150420_ahsan_china_agreemen Baltistan, t_sq?ocid=socialflow_facebook. http://www.bangesahar.net/popup.ph 41 Azam Khan, “Economic corridor: In p?r_date=04-27-2015&img=04-27- policy statement, govt denies change in 2015page-1-10. route,” Express Tribune, April 30, 2015. 40 BBC Urdu April 20, 2015, 42 Qamar Zaman, :Economic passageway: http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/pakistan/ Senators seek briefing on trade route by PM,” Express Tribune, May 12, 2015,

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the CPEC takes less developed  The government provided a areas into the folds of active detailed map of the CPEC development (particularly showing the provincial capitals Gilgit-Baltistan, Thar and (Quetta, Peshawar, Karachi and Gwadar regions). The CPEC Lahore) among the major nodes would benefit all provinces and of the project. The map is given bring peace, harmony, below: cooperation and economic development in the entire country.

Source: http://www.pc.gov.pk/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/cpecs.jpg

 Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif chaired an all-party conference (APC) on CPEC at the PM House Islamabad on May 13. One of the key outcomes of the conference was an agreement among parties to set up a special bicameral

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parliamentary committee for CPEC project. The meeting regular oversight of the CPEC decided to first build the western project.1 alignment of the route, which  Responding to small provinces’ runs from Gwadar to D.I. Khan concerns about establishment of before entering Punjab, which in industrial zones in Punjab, large helped in subsiding the Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal political opposition. It was wrote in his special column in a decided that the remaining leading Urdu newspaper Jangon concerns of parties will be May 21: “Baloch and Pashtun addressed by a bicameral people are being misguided [on parliamentary committee which CPEC] by telling them that the government had already industrial zones are to be agreed to constitute for a regular established in Punjab only. In oversight of the project. The fact, establishment of only one government also agreed to set up industrial zone has been decided joint working groups having so far under the CPEC project representation of all provinces to and that will be in Gwadar. The give their views and suggestions establishment of more industrial on economic and industrial hubs zones in the future will be to be built along the corridor.3 decided by the China-Pakistan Joint Working Group, which will  Before the May 28 conference, be formed in the next two government put extra efforts months. I had assured leaders of and gave separate briefings to all political parties in a meeting senior political leaders at their that all provinces will be doorsteps. In this regard, consulted for the establishment meetings were held with the of industrial zones.”2 leaders of Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), PTI,  Another APC was held at the Qaumi Wattan Party-Sherpao, Prime Minister’s Office on May JUI-F and ANP. The 28 that gave a go ahead to the consultation process completed

1Khawar Ghumman, “Special committee 3 Khawar Ghumman, “Parties give go- to oversee CPEC project,” Dawn, ahead to China-Pak corridor,” Dawn, Islamabad, May 14, 2015. May 29, 2015. 2 Daily Jang (Urdu), Rawalpindi, May 21, 2015.

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just minutes before the APC.4 militants. Thirdly, government evolved and announced a National Action Plan (NAP), which, though 2. Security dimension being implemented partly, has put pressure on extremist and militant groups in the country. This section discusses the security situation in the country in recent Military operations in North months, particularly since start of the Waziristan and Khyber agencies year 2015, as well as government’s have significantly damaged efforts to achieve peace and maintain militant’s networks and law and order in different parts of infrastructure. But threat of militancy Pakistan, including conflict zones. It is still there, although with a lesser also describes CPEC-specific security intensity. Militants have been measures taken by the government. successful in carrying out some major attacks this year including a suicide 2.1 Security situation of blast in an imambargah in Shikarpur Pakistan in 20155 (Sindh) in January; suicide attacks on Shia worshippers in Peshawar in There has been relative improvement February; suicide attacks on churches in the country’s security situation in Lahore in March; targeted killing since start of this year. The number of of 20 non-Baloch workers in Kech terrorist attacks has gradually (Balochistan) in April; lethal attacks declined over the months. One of the on Ismaili community in Karachi and key factors for that were the Pashtun community in Balochistan in extensive security operations May; and suicide bombings that conducted against militants in North killed Punjab Home Minister and 18 Waziristan and Khyber agencies of others in Attock, Punjab in August. FATA as well as other parts of the country. Also, since December 2014 On the whole, 431 terrorist attacks attack on a school in Peshawar, took place across Pakistan between which had killed over 100 children, January and July this year, which federal and provincial governments claimed 675 lives and injured 855 have been more vigilant and have others. Regional distribution of these increased surveillance against the attacks is given at Chart 1. Chart 1: Terrorist attacks and fatalities in Pakistan (1 Jan. to 31 July 2015)

4 Qamar Zaman, “China-Pakistan 5 All statistics used in this section are Economic Corridor: Backdoor meetings based on Pak Institute for Peace Studies’ helped forge consensus,” Express (PIPS) database on conflict and security, Tribune, May 29, 2015. unless otherwise described.

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No. of Attacks No. of people killed

183 192 167 158 98 96 78 73 44 16 1 0

There had been a declining trend in Trends of terrorist attacks in different terrorist attacks in Pakistan from regions of Pakistan since January this January to April, but in May the year are given at Chart 2. number of terrorist attacks rose once again. In May, the number of attacks increased in all regions of Pakistan. Chart 2: Trend of terrorist attacks in Pakistan since January 2015

100 Balochistan 80 Khyber 60 Pakhtunkhwa 40 FATA 20 No. ofNo. Attacks Sindh 0 Islamabad & Punjab Gilgit Baltistan

As for terrorist attacks, the number of from January to April, but the people killed in these attacks also fell number rose in May, followed by a

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Paper significant decline in subsequent related fatalities since January this months Balochistan, FATA and year. (See Chart 3) Karachi figure high in terrorism-

Chart 3: Trend of fatalities in terrorist attacks in Pakistan since January 2015

200 180 Balochistan 160 140 120 Khyber 100 Pakhtunkhwa 80 FATA 60

terrorist attacks terrorist 40 Sindh

No. of people killed in killed people of No. 20 0 Islamabad & Punjab

2.1.1 Balochistan officials have also been reported from the province in past. Balochistan’s security remains volatile where many militant, Baloch insurgent groups see mega sectarian and insurgent groups are projects in Balochistan including active. Highest number of terrorist Gwadar and the CPEC as a attacks for any one region of the conspiracy to capture Balochistan’s country in 2015 was reported from resources. That implies there is risk of Balochistan. (See Chart 1) If property attacks on the CPEC project sites and security measures are not taken, the workers. An insurgent commander implementation of CPEC projects Harbiyar Marri, chief of the Baloch could be relatively more affected in Liberation Army (BLA) said in a Balochistan as compared to other recent interview with a local regions. The province has a history of newspaper: “Pakistani security attacks on state installations, forces have increased operations in development projects, and non- Makran and Gwadar regions for Baloch workers and settlers. Many paving the way to implement Pak- incidents of kidnapping of foreigners China agreements… Enforced including Chinese and government disappearance of Baloch people in

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Silk route monitor: a review of developments on CPEC the name of security operations and Pakistan Economic Corridor. presenting Baloch people as Pakistan has since long blamed India insurgents cannot befool the world… for fueling insurgency in Balochistan China has expansionist designs and by supporting Baloch insurgent wants to capture resources of groups. Balochistan to extend its outreach to Middle East. Pakistan is supporting Security forces have also increased China by killing the Baloch people in their security and search operations the name of providing security for in the province in recent months, [CPEC] projects.”1 mainly in areas close to Gwadar and Makran coastal belt. There were also In recent months, Baloch insurgents reports that a Karachi-like operation have increased attacks on non-Baloch could be launched in Balochistan workers as well. In May, 22 Pashtuns after the Mastung killings.2However, were target killed in Mastung it would be indeed a great challenge reportedly by a Baloch insurgent for provincial government, federal group United Baloch Army (UBA). In government and army to come on the month of April, too, militants of one page and evolve a consensus Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) had security policy for Balochistan. shot dead 20 non-Baloch laborers Historically, Balochistan’s nationalist hailing from Punjab and Sindh. Most leaders and also people have seen analysts are convinced that these Islamabad and security targeted killing are an effort by establishment with an eye of Baloch insurgents to give a message suspicion and mistrust. Besides that Balochistan is not safe for military operation, extensive political projects like China-Pakistan efforts are also needed to restore Economic Corridor. Many also see a peace in the province. foreign hand behind these attacks which want to disrupt China-

Chart 4: Regional distribution of terrorist attacks in Balochistan (1 Jan. to 31 July 2015)

1 Daily Azadi (Urdu), Quetta, April 16, Balochistan,” Express Tribune, May 31, 2015. 2015. 2 Abdul Mateen, “Curbing violence: Karachi-style operation planned for

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Killed Attacks

5 Zhob 2 7 Sibi 4 50 Quetta 33 0 Qilla Saifullah 1 2 Qilla Abdullah 4 0 Pishin 3 4 Panjgur 10 3 Nushki 6 6 Nasirabad 14 23 Mastung 3 15 Loralai 5 5 Lasbela 3 0 Kohlu 2 1 Khuzdar 1 5 Kharan 3 24 Kech 11 1 Kalat 2 4 Jhal Magsi 2 6 Jafarabad 12 10 Gwadar 12 3 Dera Bugti 29 0 Bolan 1 9 Awaran 4

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2.1.3 FATA and KP Militants’ launch of terrorist attacks in agencies other than North A total of 174 terrorist attacks took Waziristan and Khyber was place in KP and FATA between apparently intended at distracting January and July this year, which security forces form those two claimed 256 lives. This is a significant agencies where the latter are engaged decrease in terrorist attacks (53 in military operations against percent) and fatalities (about 48 militants. For instance, the militants’ percent) when compared to previous activities have increased in South year’s corresponding months. Waziristan in recent months. Armed During the same period of previous clashes between militants and the year (i.e. January to July 2014), as security forces were reported from many as 372 reported terrorist attacks there in July, which indicates that had killed 491 people across KP and militants have started to regroup FATA. there.

That suggests that military Militants’ ability to have cross- operations in FATA have weakened agencies movement in FATA, mainly militants’ capacity to strike in these relocations from North Waziristan two regions. But the threat is not and Khyber agencies due to military completely eliminated. Indeed, operations there, could pose a threat militants have been successful in to security forces and also to peace carrying out terrorist attacks in and security of tribal areas and also almost all seven agencies of FATA parts of KP province which will be since January this year (See Chart 5). traversed by CPEC routes.

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Chart 5: Regional distribution of terrorist attacks in FATA (1 Jan. to 31 July 2015)

Killed Attacks 47 South Waziristan… 15 9 Orakzai Agency 6 35 North Waziristan… 10 4 Mohmand Agency 13 20 Kurram Agency 14 27 Khyber Agency 23 6 FR Regions 3 10 Bajaur Agency 12

The security situation in Khyber agencies such as Bannu, Tank and DI Pakhtunkhwa has also relatively Khan. improved but law enforcement agencies need to be more vigilant to Militants carried out 78 terrorist prevent any major attack in the attacks in 15 districts of Khyber future. As the military operations Pakhtunkhwa (See Chart 6) between have frustrated the militants they January and July this year. That could try to retaliate in form of some implies militants’ outreach in Khyber major attacks such as they carried out Pakhtunkhwa, including to areas on a school in Peshawar in December where CPEC projects will be aligned, last year. Also, militants have shown is not fully broken; nor is their an increased presence in recent operational capability completely months in the KP districts bordering destroyed. on North and South Waziristan

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Chart 6: Regional distribution of terrorist attacks in KP (1 Jan. to 31 July 2015)

No. of people killed No. of attacks

3 Tank 4 6 Swat 4 1 Swabi 2 38 Peshawar 27 1 Nowshera 2 2 Mardan 2 6 Mansehra 4 4 Malakand 2 0 Lower Dir 1 5 Kohat 3 6 Haripur 1 0 Hangu 4 17 D.I Khan 11 6 Charsadda 5 3 Bannu 6

2.1.4 Karachi and Interior between January and July (2015). A total of 192 people lost their lives and Sindh another 137 were injured in Sindh over the mentioned period of time. In terms of terrorism-related Most of these casualties concentrated fatalities, Sindh, mainly Karachi, was in two cities of Sindh, i.e. Karachi and the worst affected region of Pakistan Shikarpur. (See Chart 7)

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Chart 7: Regional distribution of terrorist attacks in Sindh (1 Jan. to 31 July 2015)

No. of attacks No. of people killed

122

60 63

1 2 1 0 4 0 5 1 1 1 4

Yet, Karachi has been relatively 2.7 per day as compared to 5.7 peaceful in 2015, particularly in murders per day in 2014 and 8.9 recent weeks and months, compared murders per day in 2013 [for the to previous years. Apparently, same period]”.1 surgical operations against militants and criminal elements have Yet, militants have at times managed significantly weakened the to show their presence by carrying infrastructure of terrorists and out either high-profile targeted criminal gangs in Karachi. According killings or terrorist attacks like the to a recent report compiled by the one on Ismaili community in May Sindh police and submitted to the this year. A long existing nexus provincial home department, “the among Sunni sectarian and other murders and targeted killings in local and international terrorist Karachi are all-time lowest.” The organizations in Karachi is a huge report said that the analysis of first challenge for security agencies. six months of 2015 “shows that average murders reported in 2015 are

1 Hasan Mansoor, “971 killed in first six months of 2015 in Karachi,” Dawn, July 22, 2015.

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Meanwhile, interior Sindh is least 30 major attacks since 2004 apparently next target of militant and including attacks on Sri Lankan sectarian outfits, which have been cricket team in 2009, attacks on strengthening their positions there Ahmadi worship places in 2010, and since long. A lethal suicide blast in an attack on Wagah border last year.2 Shikarpur in January this year That means terrorists have support targeted an imambargah and killed bases in parts of Punjab from where 63 people. Sectarian tensions and they can operate to hit their targets. militant violence are not new in this part of Sindh (Shikarpur, Sukkur and After the announcement of NAP, Khairpur). Punjab government has enhanced surveillance and police has Although most of the recent major conducted dozens of search terrorist attacks in Sindh have been operations in different parts of the sectarian-oriented, however in past, province. Hundreds of militants and sectarian militant organizations, as their supporters have also been well as Taliban militants, have arrested. Supporters of militants are carried out major attacks against apparently under immense pressure. state interests and security agencies in the province. Sectarian In July, Malik Ishaq, the main leader organizations’ nexus with Taliban and chief of the core/main group of and Al-Qaeda makes them Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) was killed dangerous for the projects like CPEC. along with his two sons and others in Muzaffargarh, in south Punjab, in an On the whole, although militants and alleged police encounter.3The sectarian groups have been assassination was described by many weakened in the province including as a severe blow to the LeJ. Also it in interior Sindh, they still have the indicated that the government capacity to attack the CPEC project Punjab, which has since long been sites; they can also kidnap workers criticized for its alleged inaction engaged at those sites. against sectarian groups, is becoming serious in eliminating the militant 2.1.5 Punjab and Islamabad groups operating in the province.

Punjab is apparently the safest region In the following month, Punjab of Pakistan in terms of incidence of Home Minister Shuja Khanzada was terrorist attacks. But the province, killed along with 18 others in a mainly its capital Lahore, has faced at suicide blast in his home town in district Attock. Reportedly militants

2Sabir Shah, “30 major terror attacks in 3Dawn, July 29, 2015, Lahore since 2004,” The News, February http://www.dawn.com/news/1197098. 18, 2015.

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Paper of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi was involved in the province might be keeping low the attack; a TTP splinter group profile and have not been eliminated. Jamaatul Ahrar had claimed the That implies the threat of major responsibility for the attack. attacks including on CPEC project sites and workers still exists. For that, Although the province has witnessed the provincial government needs to fewer – as compared to previous enhance its implementation of NAP. year’s corresponding months – and There is also need for enhanced mostly low scale attacks this year, but coordination among civilian and the militants and their supporters in military intelligence agencies.

Chart 8: Terrorist attacks in Punjab & Islamabad (1 Jan. to 31 July 2015)

No. of attacks No. of people killed

9 4 4 2 2 3 3 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0

2.1.6 Gilgit Baltistan areas. However an almost absence of militants’ bases and support Only one terrorist attack was structures in Gilgit and Baltistan reported form the region during suggests the threat level to the CPEC 2015, which did not cause any in this region will be low. However fatality. However, the region has sporadic attacks on the CPEC-linked seen plenty of sectarian violence in sites and personnel cannot be ruled past. Some high intensity attacks in out. Some terrorist attacks from the recent years on security forces and region in recent years, which hit high foreigners also revealed TTP and value targets such as 2013 attack on other militants’ outreach to northern tourists at Nangaparbat base,

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Silk route monitor: a review of developments on CPEC attracted the world attention and also implementing these points are raised concerns that the Pakistani mainly institutional including militants, mainly the TTP, in lack of capacity of related collaborations with ETIM and institutions and departments and Chinese Uighur militants could try to also lack of coordination among entrench themselves in this region. Other than that most of the violent civil and military intelligence incidents reported from this region agencies. Also, lack of political have been sectarian-related. will is a factor. Political leadership has yet to fully take 2.2 Government’s efforts to the ownership of the country’s achieve security war against terrorism.  National Counter Terrorism  The National Assembly and the Authority (NACTA) has yet to be Senate unanimously passed the fully empowered and the 21st Constitutional Amendment establishment of joint Bill 2015 in January this year by intelligence directorate is only a more than a two-thirds majority, proposal so far. paving the way for the  However, in accelerated constitution of military courts to counterterrorism efforts in KP conduct the speedy trials of and FATA, three zones of terrorists. counterterrorism departments  The government also established (CTD) were established in National Action Plan in January March. The provincial to crack down on terrorism and government pledged to fight to supplement the ongoing anti- impending militants’ activities terrorist offensive in north- through CTDs. western Pakistan. But the government and independent 2.2.1 Security Operations reports suggest that implementation on the 20 points Pakistan’s security and law of NAP has been slow. enforcement agencies have killed a  The government itself is not total of 1,312 militants between January and July this year in as many happy with the level of as 183 operational strikes and clashes achievement on the front of with militants, across 41 districts of implementation of NAP. The 20 all four provinces. points of the NAP have a wide scope. The challenges towards

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Chart: Militants killed in operations and clashes with security forces (Jan. to Jul. 2015)

Silk route monitor: a review of developments on CPEC

2.2.3 Specific security Chinese working in Pakistan on measures for CPEC around 210 development projects.2  Pakistan Army has created a  Government has in principle special security division for the agreed that military will take protection of Chinese engineers, leading role in formulating and project directors, experts and implementing security plan for workers employed on various the CPEC in close collaboration Chinese funded projects across with the interior ministry. Pakistan. According to military sources quoted in media, a total  The government has also of 10,000 troops have been allocated Rs3.5bn under the dedicated to this purpose and a latest PSDP (Public Sector two-star senior military officer, Development Program) for who would report directly to the special security forces to protect General Headquarters (GHQ), Chinese engineers, project would head this security directors, experts and workers division. Out of 10,000 troops, employed on various Chinese- over 5,000 will be from the funded projects across Pakistan.3 special services group of On the whole, the budget plan Pakistan Army who are specially for 2015-16 describes that as trained for counter-terrorism and many as 28 wings of Civil Armed security.1 Forces will be raised, at the cost of 7.5 billion rupees, to provide  Even before the decision to security for CPEC and Chinese establish special security workers. division, an estimated 8,000

personnel of police and paramilitary forces have been 3. Developmental progress on deployed across the country for CPEC the security of more than 8,112

1Mateen Haider, “Army’s special security workers,” Express Tribune, Islamabad, division to protect Chinese workers in March 30, 2015. Pakistan,” Dawn, Islamabad, April 21, 3The News, Islamabad, Saturday, June 06, 2015. 2015. 2 Zahid Gishkori, “Economic corridor: 12,000-strong force to guard Chinese

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 Pakistan and China signed 51  Provision of material for agreements and memorandums tackling climate change; and of understanding (MoUs) of  Projects in the Gwadar Port bilateral cooperation in different region and establishment of fields during Chinese president’s China-Pakistan Joint Cotton visit to Pakistan in April 2015. Biotech Laboratory and The $28bn financing agreements China-Pakistan Joint Marine will immediately come into the Research Centre. implementation phase because necessary processes have already  There were reports that been completed. These include:4 development funds and loans  1000MW solar power park in from China for the CPEC project Punjab; could get delayed due to the  870MW Suki Kanari (Khyber issue of double taxation and Pakhtunkhwa) hydropower absence of an agreement on project; exempting Chinese companies  720MW Karot (AJK) from taxes on the profits they hydropower project; make in Pakistan. Federal Board  Three wind power projects at of Revenue argues that it cannot Thatta of United Energy achieve the government- Pakistan (100MW), Sachal provided targets if complete tax (50MW) and Hydro-China exemption will be provided to (50MW); Chinese companies.5 Pakistani  Chinese government’s officials were to hold further concessional loans for the negotiations with Chinese tax second phase up-gradation officials and companies in of Karakorum Highway August 2015. (Havelian to Thakot);  Karachi-Lahore Motorway  Similarly there could be issues of (Multan to Sukkur), Gwadar bureaucratic hurdles, which Port east-bay expressway might affect smooth functioning project and Gwadar of CPEC implementation. Mr Zu international airport; Young, president of a Chinese company Zonergy said in

4Khaleeq Kiani, “$28 billion accords for 5 Daily Dunya (Urdu), Islamabad, May fast-track projects,” Dawn, April 21, 2015. 19, 2015.

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Islamabad on April 22 while while the Cabinet Committee on sharing his views on the Energy is also a part of it. Bahawalpur power project: Chinese and Pakistani working “These projects can be completed groups have already within the stipulated timeframe conceptualized, structured and only when the concerned time-framed all the CPEC ministries and departments in projects Pakistan exhibit a matchless coordination at every phase.6  Budgetary allocations: Headed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif,  In this backdrop, government is the National Economic Council trying to put in place a multi-tier (NEC) approved 2015-16’s mechanism to ensure that CPEC federally funded development projects do not fall victim to program including over two and bureaucratic hurdles and delays. a half dozen CPEC-related ‘Prime Minister Delivery Unit’ projects. The approved NEC plan has been established at the PM’s shows that the government has Office comprising professionals included Rs942 billion worth of from public and private sectors CPEC projects in the 2015-16 and having expertise in CPEC- budget and allocated Rs171 related projects.7 Supervised by billion for spending in the year.8 the prime minister, the unit will Budgetary allocations for CPEC monitor the CPEC projects and routes are described below:9 provide daily, weekly and monthly progress reports to the  Rs20.8 billion worth of prime minister. The Ministry of CPEC projects will go to the Planning, Development and western route. However the Reform, currently headed by Senate standing committee Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal, on finance and revenue later has a leading role in the unit recommended to enhance allocation for the western

6 Khalid Mustafa, “High degree of projects,” The News, Islamabad, May 8, coordination required for making CPEC 2015. a success story,” The News, Islamabad, 8 Shahbaz Rana, “Budget 2015-16” 12% of April 23, 2015. approved funds foes to CPEC’s western 7Ansar Abbasi, “Multi-tier mechanism in alignment,” Express Tribune, Islamabad, place for timely completion of CPEC June 2, 2015. 9 Ibid

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route by Rs100 billion under for all the routes. For the the CPEC so as to fulfill the construction of 120km consensus decision of May- Thakot to Havelian section, 28 All Parties Conference the NEC approved Rs23.5 (APC) and the Prime billion. The total cost of the Minister’s promise to build project is Rs95.4 billion. For this route on a priority the acquisition of land for basis.10 this project, the NEC allocated another Rs6  A lion’s share of Rs95 billion. billion, or 57% of total CPEC allocations, will go to  Similarly, for construction projects on the eastern of the Islamabad-Mianwali- corridor. The NEC has Dera Ismail Khan road, approved Rs60.2 billion for which will link eastern and the construction of a 387km central routes, the NEC Multan-Sukkur section of approved Rs10 billion. The the eastern route. The total total cost of the project is cost of this project is Rs259.3 Rs68 billion.12 billion. For the 296km Sukkur-Hyderabad section  In order to complete work of the eastern route, the on the Gwadar Port, the NEC allocated Rs10.5 NEC approved eight billion. The total cost of the projects worth Rs41.6 billion project is Rs148 billion. It and allocated Rs6.8 billion approved Rs20 billion for a for the next year. These 230km Lahore-Abdul projects include Hakeem road section.11 construction of break way waters, capital dredging of  An amount of Rs31.8 billion berthing areas, is proposed for the northern infrastructure development alignment, which is the link for the Export Processing

10 Mehtab Haider, “Senate panel western alignment,” Express Tribune, demands Rs100 bn more for CPEC Islamabad, June 2, 2015 western route,” The News, June 12, 2015. 12 Ibid. 11 Shahbaz Rana, “Budget 2015-16” 12% of approved funds foes to CPEC’s

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Zone Authority, Pak-China connects to Rattodero, in Technical and Vocational Sindh. Centre and upgrading of the  The road linking Gwadar to existing 50-bed hospital to Khuzdar, Quetta and DI 300-bed at Gwadar. The Khan is under construction NEC also approved Rs4.7 and is expected to be billion allocation for the completed till next year, i.e. construction of Eastbay 2016.14 The road will further Expressway that will link link to Karakorum Highway. Gwadar with the coastal  A couple of sections of the highway.13 road between Gwadar and Quetta are currently at an advanced stage of  Meanwhile work on different construction. parts of the CPEC projects  Work on Peshawar-Karachi continues. The Planning motorway project started Commission and other related over 20 years back and effort departments do not provide is being made to complete it some specific information about in next few years. these projects on their websites.  Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif However the following inaugurated in Karachi the paragraphs describe progress on first phase of the Karachi- different CPEC projects based on Lahore (M-9) Motorway on information drawn from media March 11, 2015 which will reports, online sources and and cost Rs. 36 billion. M-9 will official statements. facilitate people commuting  The work on M•8 (motorway between Karachi and major from Gwadar to Rattodero) cities including Sukkur, is underway and is expected Badin, Ghotki, Rohri, Dadu, to conclude by December Pannu Aqil, Abro, 2015. M-8 is connecting Sadiqabad, Rahim Yar Khan, Gwadar to Turbat, Panjgur Zahir Pir, Jalalpur Peerwala, and Khuzdar regions in Balochistan and further

13 Ibid. 14 Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal was quoted as saying in a report by Asif Iqbal published on BBC Urdu on April 20, 2015.

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Abdul Hakim, Mamu Kanjan  The work on 900 MW solar and Nankana Sahib. project at Bahawalpur, South  A feasibility study is Punjab, is going on with 150 underway for the upgrading Chinese and 100 locals of Karachi-Peshawar Main working on the site. This and Line. other similar solar power  Survey for route of KKH•I stations will become a 'solar from RaiKot to Khunjerab, oasis' in the CPEC.16 which will ultimately link up to the Kashgar, is underway. 4. Regional perspective  According to details provided by National The corridor will certainly improve Highway Authority, prospects for regional cooperation in Havelian to Khunjerab trade and economic projects as well as for peace and stability. Pakistan’s railway track was approved refusal to send its troops to Yemen in in September support of Saudi Arabia, which 2014.15Currently the work is would have annoyed a neighbor Iran, going on the track. and efforts to support Afghanistan’s  E35 Expressway, or the reconciliation with the Afghan Hazara Motorway, is under Taliban are being seen by many as a paradigm shift in Pakistan’s regional construction. Prime Minister strategic outlook. Chinese Nawaz Sharif had investment and the CPEC are playing inaugurated it in November a key role in that regard. 2014. The motorway will link Hassan Abdal in Punjab with There is a perception in Pakistan that the cities of Haripur, China is supporting Pakistan’s efforts Havelian, Abbottabad, and in establishing good ties with Afghanistan. There were reports in Mansehra in Khyber media before Chinese president Xi Pakhtunkhwa. Jinping’s visit to Pakistan on April 20  Feasibility study is that Beijing has asked Islamabad to underway for the Havelian upgrade the proposed plan to Dry Port. construct a road network under the CPEC from six to eight lane arteries

15 http://nha.gov.pk/wp- 16 Khalid Mustafa, “High degree of content/uploads/2012/09/Confirmed- coordination required for making CPEC Minutes-of-238-Executive-Board- a success story,” The News, Islamabad, Meeting.pdf. April 23, 2015.

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Silk route monitor: a review of developments on CPEC extending them to Afghanistan. At the same time, Iran has again “That is why Pakistan has decided to asked India to invest in Iranian increase the number of trade routes Chabahar port,20 which many believe with Afghanistan to 16 from the will not only open up Indian access to existing four,” a report published in a Afghanistan and Central Asia but leading English newspaper said.17 also prove a competition for Five new trade routes would be Pakistan’s Gwadar port, currently opened in Balochistan and seven in being operated by Chinese Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.18 companies. In that context, it yet remains to be seen to what extent Iran has recently expressed its CPEC and Gwadar port could interest in becoming part of the develop cooperation and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor connectedness among countries in with a view to become part of the region. restoration and expansion of the ancient Silk Route which has India raised objections on the CPEC historically been a means to transfer by summoning Chinese envoy in trade products and also culture from Delhi to the Ministry of External east to west linking India, China and Affairs, days before the Indian Prime Pakistan to Mediterranean Sea.19 Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to China in May. India’s objections were Pakistan has also welcomed the linked to CPEC route passing agreement on Iran’s nuclear through areas which India believes program, recently reached between are still contested including Kashmir Iran and the six world powers. and Gilgit-Baltistan.21 However, a Pakistan believes that the easing of few weeks before this development, international sanctions on Iran in the India’s high commissioner to aftermath of the deal could allow Pakistan had said that India had no Pakistan to complete its part of Iran- worries over the construction of Pakistan gas pipeline section, as per CPEC as an economically-strong the agreement signed in 2013.

17 Khalid Mustafa, “China tells Pakistan 19 Muhammad Waziri, “Iran’s interest in CPEC success depends on peaceful Pak- restoration of Silk Route” (as translated Afghan ties,” The News, Islamabad, form Urdu), BBC Urdu, June 8, 2015, April 19, 2015. http://www.bbc.com/urdu/world/201 18 The existing four trade routes between 5/06/150608_iran_slik_road_sr?ocid=so Pakistan and Afghanistan include cialflow_facebook. Chaman, Torkham, Ghulam Khan and 20 “Iran has offered India bigger role in Miran Shah. The Miran Shah route is strategic port, says envoy,” Dawn, July currently non-functional due to a military 18, 2015. operation going on in North Waziristan. 21Express Tribune, Islamabad, May 12, 2015.

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Pakistan would bring stability to the region.22 Others believe that despite its Security experts believe that India is instantaneous protest, India will be using Baloch insurgents against the in the long run influenced positively development of the CPEC. ‘One by the CPEC, and may wish to start India’, an Indian propaganda website reportedly managed by or become part of similar projects of Indian intelligence agency RAW regional connectivity in the future. published an interview of Allah Chinese also think that a successful Nazar Baloch – leader of a Baloch completion of the CPEC will make insurgent group Baloch Liberation easy for China “to pursue India, Front (BLF) which is mainly active in Bangladesh and Myanmar for the areas close to Gwadar including 24 Kech, Awaran and Panjgur – early East Asian corridor”. April this year. The contents of the interview revolved around allegations against Pakistan’s security forces, intelligence agencies and Pak-China relations.23 Analysts claimed that uploading of interview of a Baloch insurgent commander on an Indian website suggested that India had sort of links with the Baloch insurgents, which it could use in future to create security problem for the implementation of CPEC- related projects.

22 “Indian not threatened by Pakistan- 23 Mian Saifur Rehman, “RAW website China economic corridor: envoy,” hits at Pak-China corridor,” The News, Express Tribune, Islamabad, April 23, Islamabad, April 5, 2015. 2015. 24 Muhammad Amir Rana, “Economic corridor challenges,” Dawn, May17, 2015.

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Guidelines for contributors

Conflict and Peace Studies is a biannual journal published by Pak Institute for Peace Studies. The journal is aimed at dissemination of research by the Institute in its key mandated areas. It also provides a forum for those around the world undertaking research in the areas of:

 Conflict and peace (Inter-state and intra-state conflicts in South Asia)  Security and development  Radicalization  Media for peace and democracy  Political violence and terrorism  Counter-terrorism  Economic strategic issues  International relations and foreign policy

Only previously unpublished submissions will be accepted and copyright will be assigned to the publisher. Permission to use copyright material submitted to the journal will be the responsibility of the author.

Submissions must be typed, single-spaced, should not exceed 6,000 words including references, and should be accompanied by an abstract (200-300 words) and a brief introduction of the author (100-150 words). Contact details should also be provided. Before publication, proofs will be sent to authors for correction and must be returned to the editor by the given deadline.

Guidelines regarding endnotes/footnotes, headings, subheadings etc. may be followed as given in previous issues of this journal.

The title of the submission may be center-aligned and all headings and subheadings left-aligned. All headings and sub-headings, as well as the title, may be in lower case but first letter of the first word and of all other words except prepositions, articles, and coordinating conjunctions may be capitalized. Titles and subheads may not be underlined or italicized.

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Highlights of previous issues

Last Issue

Highlights of previous issues

Vol 7 No 1 Contents

Editor’s note Comments Parliament watch: Summary of the debates in the joint session on Yemen crisis Muhammad Ismail Khan Crisis in Yemen: threats of another proxy war in Pakistan Shahzad Raza Papers Madrassa reforms: the debate Mujtaba Muhammad Rathore Exploring the drone syndrome Asmatullah Wazir Demystifying the drone operations in Pakistan Zeeshan-ul-Hassan Usmani Backgrounders The mystery of Jundullah Farhan Zahid and Andrew McGregor National Action Plan: performance so far Azam Khan and Aamir Saeed Regional view Indo-Pak relations: views of Pakistan’s political and religious parties Ahmad Khan

Guidelines for contributors Note on contributors

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Vol 6 No 2

Contents

Abstracts Papers The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor: an assessment of potential threats and constraints Safdar Sial Persecuting Pakistan’s minorities: state complicity or historic neglect? Razeshta Sethna The good governance model to counter extremism: an historical perspective Ummad Mazhar From intra-sectarianism to fragile peace: the Gilgit-Baltistan model Peer Muhammad

Backgrounder Understanding the Islamic State: ideology, affiliates and the Da’esh model Farhan Zahid Evolution of Militant Groups in Pakistan (v) Muhammad Amir Rana

Comment Understanding the fundamentals of a counterterrorism strategy for Pakistan Farhan Zahid

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Highlights of previous issues

VOLUME 6, NUMBER 1

Contents

Abstracts Papers A review of National Internal Security Policy (2013-18) Muhammad Amir Rana

2014 withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan: implications for regional security Safdar Sial & Talha Saeed Satti

Post-2014 Afghanistan: prospects for Taliban’s rise to power Farhan Zahid

FATA reforms: journey so far and the way forward Asmatullah Khan Wazir Militant economy of Karachi Zia Ur Rehman

Regional View Pak-Afghan ties: views of Pakistan’s political and religious parties Musa Javaid & Sara Meer Backgrounder Evolution of militant groups in Pakistan (4) Muhammad Amir Rana Comment Pakistan: A Society in Perpetual Turmoil Zubair Torwali Book Review ‘Pakistan: A Hard Country’ by Anatol Lieven Safiya Aftab Guidelines for Contributors

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VOLUME 5, NUMBER 1

Contents

Abstracts Papers Afghanistan and Pakistan: A Common Security Perspective Muhammad Amir Rana and Safdar Sial

Culture of Violence versus Culture of Silence: Civil Society Responses to Extremism and Terrorism in South Asia Arshi Saleem Hashmi

Factors of Anti-Americanism in Middle East and Pakistan Syed Manzar Abbas Zaidi

Role of Religious Scholars in Counter-Radicalization and Deradicalization Strategies in Pakistan: The Need and the Scope Safdar Sial Regional View Pak-Iran Relations: Views of Political and Religious Parties Najam U Din and Maryam Naseer Backgrounder Evolution of Militant Groups in Pakistan (III) Muhammad Amir Rana Comment Pakistan: A Society in Perpetual Turmoil Zubair Torwali Book Review ‘Pakistan: A Hard Country’ by Anatol Lieven Safiya Aftab

Notes on Contributors

Guidelines for Contributors

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Highlights of previous issues

VOLUME 4, NUMBER 2

Comment Swat De-radicalization Model: Prospects for Rehabilitating Militants Muhammad Amir Rana Papers State-building in Afghanistan: Are Reforms Sustainable? Umair Riaz

The Process of Radicalization: Contextualizing the Case of Pakistan Syed Manzar Abbas Zaidi

Modes of Radicalization and De-radicalization: Impact on Pakistan’s Security Dynamics Salma Malik

Backgrounder Evolution of Militant Groups in Pakistan (I)

VOLUME 4, NUMBER 1

Papers Prospects for Pak-China Relations in 2011: Political, Militant and Public Views Nida Naz

Pak-Afghan Relations: Emerging Trends and Future Prospects Safdar Sial

Pakistan’s Relations with Central Asian States: Irritants and Challenges Farhat Akram

Analysis of Peace Agreements with Militants and Recommendations for Future Sohail Habib Tajik

Analysis The Agenda of Religious-Political Organizations: A Discourse Analysis Muhammad Amir Rana

Report Understanding North Punjab in the Context of Pakistan Diaspora in Britain Pak Institute for Peace Studies

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VOLUME 3, NUMBER 4

Report Conflict and Insecurity in Balochistan: Assessing Strategic Policy Options for Peace and Security Safdar Sial and Abdul Basit Papers A Progressive Understanding of Pashtun Social Structures amidst Current Conflict in FATA Brian R. Kerr

Understanding FATA Syed Manzar Abbas Zaidi

Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan: A Global Threat Khuram Iqbal

Analysis Analyzing Suicide Attacks in Pakistan Akbar Nasir Khan

VOLUME 3, NUMBER 3

Comment Folds of Radicalization Muhammad Amir Rana

Survey Radicalization: Perceptions of Educated Youth in Pakistan Papers A Link between Poverty and Radicalization in Pakistan Manzar Zaidi

Religious Behaviors in Pakistan: Impact on Social Development Muhammad Azam

Pakistan’s Responses to Terrorism: A Broad Overview Wajahat Ali

Profile Hizbut Tahrir in Pakistan: Discourse and Impact Muhammad Amir Rana

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Highlights of previous issues

VOLUME 3, NUMBER 2

Survey Radicalization in Pakistan: Understanding the Phenomenon

Papers Trends and Patterns of Radicalization in Pakistan Mujtaba Rathore and Abdul Basit

Jihad, Extremism and Radicalization: A Public Perspective Safdar Sial and Tanveer Anjum

Women Radicalization: An Emperical Study Saba Noor and Daniela Hussain

Litterateurs’ Response to Extremism in Pakistan Muhammad Amir Rana

VOLUME 3, NUMBER 1 Militants’ Media Package Comment Mainstream Media’s Response to Radical Extremism Najam U Din Reports 1) Militants’ Media in Pakistan: Political Etymology and Professional and Craft Analyses Wajahat Masood 2) Weapons of Mass Distortion: A Closer Look at the Jihadi Media in Pakistan Wajahat Ali 3) An External View of the Vernacular Press in Pakistan Ranga Kalansooriya Dialogue Media Seminars on Militants’ Media in Pakistan and its Impact

Papers

Evolution of Suicide Terrorism in Pakistan and Counter-Strategies Khuram Iqbal Terrorist Attacks and Community Responses Amjad Tufail

Radicals’ Influx into Border Areas: Impact on Inter-state Relations in South Asia Muhammad Amir Rana

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VOLUME 2, NUMBER 3

Papers

Financial Sources of Pakistani Militant and Religious Organizations

Muhammad Amir Rana

Taliban on the March: Threat Assessment and Security Implications for the Region

Safdar Sial

Radicalization and De-Radicalization in Singapore and Pakistan:A Comparison

Ishtiaq Ahmed

Report

Profiling the Violence in Karachi

Comment

FATA: Tribal Economy in the Context of Ongoing Militancy

Asif Mian

VOLUME 2, NUMBER 2

Taliban Insurgency: A Counterinsurgency Perspective

Muhammad Amir Rana

Inequality and the Militant Threat in Pakistan

Muhammad Azam and Safiya Aftab

Deradicalization: Approaches and Models

Saba Noor and Shagufta Hayat

Crisis of Political Development and Human Rights Violations

Dr. Mansoor Akbar Kundi

Tablighi Jamaat: Discourse and Challenges

Muhammad Amir Rana

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Highlights of previous issues

VOLUME 2, NUMBER 1

Debate Defining the Phenomenon of Radicalization

in Pakistan: A Report

Papers Mapping the Madrasa Mindset: Political Attitudes of Pakistani Madaris

Muhammad Amir Rana

Radicalization in Pakistan: Sociocultural Realities

Muhammad Azam

Post-9/11 Peace Narrative in Pakistan

Shabana Fayyaz

Radicalization in Sri Lanka

Ranga Kalansooriya

Human Rights Reporting in Pakistani Media

Safdar Sial

Case Study

Radicalization among Educated Pakistani Youth

Saba Noor

VOLUME 1

Comments New Approaches to the War on Terror in Afghanistan and Pakistani Tribal Areas What has Culture to do with the Economy? Papers Radicalization & Media Muhammad Azam Jihadi Print Media in Pakistan: An Overview Muhammad Amir Rana Poverty and Militancy Safiya Aftab Evolution of Counter-Terrorism Legislation in Pakistan Saba Noor Exploring the Mindset of the British-Pakistani Community: The Socio- cultural and Religious Context Safdar Sial

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