After receiving fresh intelligence reports about the abundant circulation of ‘dangerous’ hate material, especially by jihadi extremists, the top quarters in Islamabad have asked the provincial governments to launch an onslaught against those involved in the ‘dangerous game’, sources said. Sources in the ministry of interior in Islamabad said it had received reports about the circulation of provocative material being used by banned extremist groups to lure and indoctrinate naïve youth to be involved in the terror game especially in large cities, with particular emphasis on Karachi.Karachi has seen a number of suicide bombings since May 2002 when the first of the suicide attacks killed 11 French engineers among 14 people and injured over 50 more outside the Sheraton hotel. The latest incidents reported this year were near the US consulate building in March, which killed four and a US diplomat and injured 52 others, and during a congregation in Nishtar Park on April 11, which killed over 60 people and injured more than 100. Many religious parties dispute the government’s claim that the Nishtar Park blast was a suicide bombing but any evidence to assert their counterclaims is still awaited.
Sources in the provincial home department said they had received the instructions from Islamabad to keep a beady eye on the circulation of videocassettes, audiocassettes and DVDs and CDs. “There are reports that some banned groups of extremists are behind this practice to arrange discreet gatherings at remote locations in Karachi and other cities in which they are indoctrinated with published material and visuals,” said an official on condition of anonymity. Similarly, sources said a large number of audiocassettes were conveniently available in the open market and were being sold at cheap rates. There are many mosques and madressahs across the country where such audiocassettes are kept on sale. Sources said it was difficult for the authorities to locate the expert jihadis involved in the circulation of such stuff.