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2008-03-17 India-Pakistan
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Jihadis prefer khanqahs to madrassas
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The jihadis of the country are increasingly turning to khanqahs (Sufi monasteries) for sanctuary, shunning the madrassas that are regularly raided by security forces in connection with the war on terror.
A close ally of Taliban supreme leader Mullah Omar and head of Harkatul Jihad Al Islami Pakistan, Qari Saifullah Akhtar, was arrested on February 26 and revealed during interrogation that he had been staying at a khanqah during the time he was hiding from law-enforcement agencies. Saifullah was arrested in connection with the October 18, 2007, blasts in Karachi, as he had been posthumously accused in Benazir Bhuttos book of plotting to kill her.
Saifullah had initially been arrested in Dubai in August 2004, after which he was repatriated to Pakistan. He was released after his family submitted an appeal before then chief justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry in connection with the missing persons case. He disappeared in Bahawalpur after his release.
During interrogation, Saifullah said that he had been living in Khanqah Syed Ahmad Shaheed near Sagian Bridge for the past few months. He said that Syed Nafeesul Husseni had declared him Khalifa before his death on February 5, 2008, and he (Saifullah) was building a new khanqah in Ferozewala when he was arrested.
Raids: Saifullah told the interrogators that madrassas were regularly being raided in connection with the war on terror. He said this had forced jihadis to prefer khanqahs as resting stops. He said the deputation of permanent surveillance at every madrassa further facilitated this move. Investigation sources told Daily Times that Qari Saifullah had been shifted to Karachi for further investigation, adding that investigators were hopeful that he would provide more information about the actions of the jihadis.
Qari Saifullah tried to kill President Pervez Musharraf on behalf of Al Qaeda. He was also an adviser to Mullah Omar in the Taliban government of Afghanistan. His fighters were called the Punjabi Taliban and were offered employment - something other outfits could not get out of Mullah Omar.
| This article starring: |
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| Harkatul Jihad Al Islami Pakistan | |
| Punjabi Taliban | |
| Qari Saifullah Akhtar | Harkatul Jihad Al Islami Pakistan | |
| Syed Nafeesul Husseni | Harkatul Jihad Al Islami Pakistan | |
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Posted by Fred 2008-03-17 00:00||
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Posted by Seafarious 2008-03-17 00:10||
2008-03-17 00:10||
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