Jihadi organisations have reportedly decided to launch operations against the government for its proâUS stance and for cracking down on them (jihadis). Sources told Daily Times on Sunday that intelligence reports given to the Interior Ministry said members of defunct jihadi organisations including Harkatul Mujahideen al-Alami, Harkatul Jihad-e-Islami, Harkatul Ansar, Jaish e-Muhammad (Khuddamul Islam), Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and Millat-e-Islamia Pakistan were planning to target American, British and Iranian diplomats and other foreign dignitaries in Pakistan. The reports said government officials including Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Minister of State for Religious Affairs Dr Amir Liaqat Hussain, National Bank of Pakistan President Syed Ai Raza, Muttahida Qaumi Movement Senator Allama Ghulam Abbas Kumaili and Irfan Ali Abdi were also targets, sources added.
Reports said jihadi organisations had selected churches countrywide to carry out suicide attacks and car bombings against, sources said. âIt has been reported that five churches in Rawalpindi and Islamabad have been selected by the jihadi outfits. These churches are the St Andrewâs Church in Gowalmandi, Rawalpindi, St Paulâs Church in Rawalpindi Cantonment, UP Church in Raja Bazaar, Rawalpindi, Priest Nasir Church in Islamabad, and St Thomas Church in Islamabad,â sources added. The reports also said the jihadi outfits had formed groups of three to carry out the attacks and that they were armed with automatic weapons, sources said, adding that the jihadi outfits possessed explosives as well as people ready to carry out the attacks.
Sources said the jihadi outfits planned to carry out suicide attacks and car bombings to pressure the government into reconsidering its policies on jihad and cooperating with the US and other western countries in the war on terrorism. In light of these reports, the Interior Ministry has asked all home secretaries and provincial police officers to strengthen security around worship places and foreign dignitaries, ministers and other government officials. |