karan.1970
BANNED
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2010
- Messages
- 14,781
- Reaction score
- -20
- Country
- Location
TTP rules the roost in Pakhtun-dominated areas | The Nation
KARACHI - Taliban have got control of the Pukhtoon-dominated areas located in the suburbs of countys commercial hub and expelled political forces from there and are killing those offering resistance.
The inclusive Pukhtoon belt situated in the surroundings of Karachi once considered a stronghold of Awami National Party (ANP) has become a stronghold of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).The western part of the metropolis from Afghan Camp to Sohrab Goth to Mangopir to Banars and other areas including Saeedabad, Sultanabad, Quaidabad and other small pockets of Pukhtoons remain under the complete control of TTP.
The ANP known for its contribution in war on terror along with Pakistan Army in Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa and which used to give tough time to the dominant political force of the City - Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) - in these areas suddenly vanished from Karachi as TTP threatened it to end political activities there. After threats, the ANP did not offer any major resistance and closed all its offices across the city and even removed the red coloured walls and Chowks. Hardly a flag or wall chalking of ANP is seen from Sohrab Goth to Afghan Camp and Mangopir to Kanwari Colony to Banars, Sultanabad, Quaidabad and other areas. A thorough visits in these areas revealed that the ANP had closed it offices and Pukhtoons living in the areas have disassociated themselves from the ANP.
S K, a senior Taliban cadre member recently bailed out told TheNation that TTP Chief Hakimullah Mehsude himself took the notice and directed local TTP leaders to take action against the ANP. He said that TTP Karachi took stand against the ANP when scores of supporters and cadres of TTP registered complained against ANP directly to the TTP chief for its involvement in murders and extortions. Other TTP local Jirga leaders in Karachi asked ANP leadership and workers to close all ANP offices and also stop all kind of political activities, he added. Farooq Mehsued who hails from North Waziristan and is a resident of Khan Muhammad Goth located near Sohrab Goth jurisdiction of Gadap Town police when contacted said that Taliban first sent massage to all ANP workers and local leaders to end their activities and remove the red colour flags and paint on the offices of ANP.
The TTP gave three-day ultimatum for the whitewash and reached in all the offices of ANP in Datsun pickups in traditional mode of final warning, he said. Farooq said that the arrival of long beard turban men with sophisticated weapons panicked the ANP leaders and workers and they closed most of their offices in the City without any resistance. Inhabitants of Pukhtoon-dominated areas revealed that TTP had formed a Pukhtoon Amman Jirga to deal with the issues and opened its offices in different areas of the City. The TTP also established a force in the area for security duties and paid them salaries for their services in Karachi.
Altaf Khan, a businessmen having shop in Sohrab Goth, said that he was worried when ANP demanded Rs0.5 million as extortion but suddenly Taliban took over the charge in the area. He said that now they had fixed Rs2,000 monthly for each businessman and are also providing security to them. You just inform and point out the culprit involved in any kind of illegal activity from a distance to TTP, Altaf quoted Taliban as having said. Zarak Khan, who has a mechanical shop near Al-Asif Square told that all the residents and businessmen are satisfied because crimes and other illegal activities have come to an end as TTP is ruling the area.
TheNation visited the areas and found panic among the ANP workers and leaders remained tight-lipped because of the fear. The word ANP is hardly visible on the walls now painted with whitewash in all Pukhtoon areas. At least, a dozen senior leaders and workers of ANP who offered resistance were killed.
A police official on intelligence duty informed that ANP had also surrendered its weapons before the Taliban. ANP Janjar Goth President Rehmat Khan Achakzai while talking to TheNation said, Taliban can kill us anywhere any time and we cannot take stand against them. He said that people of Mehsud and Wazir tribes are supposed to fight with Taliban in Karachi although ANP can do it here but who will save our houses and land in our hometowns controlled by Taliban.
He said that Taliabn headquarters of Gadap Town is located in Supermarket, Sohrab Goth area with the name of Mushtarka Amman Jirga while the main headquarters offices are located in Kanwari Colony, Mangopir area.
He revealed that Taliban had killed Shair Zaman Mehsude, a notorious elder of Pukhtoons in Sohrab Goth area and his two brothers in Karachi and also issued CD of the ruthless murder.
Shair Zaman was the known leader in Pukhtoon-dominated areas and had been associated with TTP and nominated in several high profile cases including the attack on SP Gdap Rao Anwar but had disassociated himself before his murder. He pointed out that the Kanwari Colony, Pukhtoonabad and Itahad Town were among the strong hold areas of TTP where men wearing trousers are not allowed and not even the security personnel are supposed to go inside the areas. Police sources said that TTP had killed two policemen and several others over suspicion.
Rana Gull Afridi, ANP central leader while talking to TheNation told that we have informed authorities concerned about the situation. The situation would be more critical if authorities concerned did not take up the issue on priority basis because Karachi is different from Swat, Malakand and other tribal areas, he added. We do not believe in violent struggle but if government did not resolve the issue then we will have to do something for our survival, he said.
IG Sindh Fayyaz Laghari and SP Rao Anwar declined to comment on the issue when contacted.
Some police officials of district revealed that worst situation is in the offing and it would be difficult for the law enforcement agencies to bust such an organised network.Police officials were also seen happy because of decline in crime rate in the areas dominated by TTP.
Crime Investigation Department (CID) SSP Fayyaz Khan told TheNation that police department had already been working on the issue and was chalking out the strategy to deal with the Taliban who appeared in the form of organised network.
SP Khan acknowledged Talibanization in these areas and also said that a concrete strategy is needed to wipe them out.
Looks like Taliban is emerging as an alternate govt in Pakistan
KARACHI - Taliban have got control of the Pukhtoon-dominated areas located in the suburbs of countys commercial hub and expelled political forces from there and are killing those offering resistance.
The inclusive Pukhtoon belt situated in the surroundings of Karachi once considered a stronghold of Awami National Party (ANP) has become a stronghold of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).The western part of the metropolis from Afghan Camp to Sohrab Goth to Mangopir to Banars and other areas including Saeedabad, Sultanabad, Quaidabad and other small pockets of Pukhtoons remain under the complete control of TTP.
The ANP known for its contribution in war on terror along with Pakistan Army in Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa and which used to give tough time to the dominant political force of the City - Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) - in these areas suddenly vanished from Karachi as TTP threatened it to end political activities there. After threats, the ANP did not offer any major resistance and closed all its offices across the city and even removed the red coloured walls and Chowks. Hardly a flag or wall chalking of ANP is seen from Sohrab Goth to Afghan Camp and Mangopir to Kanwari Colony to Banars, Sultanabad, Quaidabad and other areas. A thorough visits in these areas revealed that the ANP had closed it offices and Pukhtoons living in the areas have disassociated themselves from the ANP.
S K, a senior Taliban cadre member recently bailed out told TheNation that TTP Chief Hakimullah Mehsude himself took the notice and directed local TTP leaders to take action against the ANP. He said that TTP Karachi took stand against the ANP when scores of supporters and cadres of TTP registered complained against ANP directly to the TTP chief for its involvement in murders and extortions. Other TTP local Jirga leaders in Karachi asked ANP leadership and workers to close all ANP offices and also stop all kind of political activities, he added. Farooq Mehsued who hails from North Waziristan and is a resident of Khan Muhammad Goth located near Sohrab Goth jurisdiction of Gadap Town police when contacted said that Taliban first sent massage to all ANP workers and local leaders to end their activities and remove the red colour flags and paint on the offices of ANP.
The TTP gave three-day ultimatum for the whitewash and reached in all the offices of ANP in Datsun pickups in traditional mode of final warning, he said. Farooq said that the arrival of long beard turban men with sophisticated weapons panicked the ANP leaders and workers and they closed most of their offices in the City without any resistance. Inhabitants of Pukhtoon-dominated areas revealed that TTP had formed a Pukhtoon Amman Jirga to deal with the issues and opened its offices in different areas of the City. The TTP also established a force in the area for security duties and paid them salaries for their services in Karachi.
Altaf Khan, a businessmen having shop in Sohrab Goth, said that he was worried when ANP demanded Rs0.5 million as extortion but suddenly Taliban took over the charge in the area. He said that now they had fixed Rs2,000 monthly for each businessman and are also providing security to them. You just inform and point out the culprit involved in any kind of illegal activity from a distance to TTP, Altaf quoted Taliban as having said. Zarak Khan, who has a mechanical shop near Al-Asif Square told that all the residents and businessmen are satisfied because crimes and other illegal activities have come to an end as TTP is ruling the area.
TheNation visited the areas and found panic among the ANP workers and leaders remained tight-lipped because of the fear. The word ANP is hardly visible on the walls now painted with whitewash in all Pukhtoon areas. At least, a dozen senior leaders and workers of ANP who offered resistance were killed.
A police official on intelligence duty informed that ANP had also surrendered its weapons before the Taliban. ANP Janjar Goth President Rehmat Khan Achakzai while talking to TheNation said, Taliban can kill us anywhere any time and we cannot take stand against them. He said that people of Mehsud and Wazir tribes are supposed to fight with Taliban in Karachi although ANP can do it here but who will save our houses and land in our hometowns controlled by Taliban.
He said that Taliabn headquarters of Gadap Town is located in Supermarket, Sohrab Goth area with the name of Mushtarka Amman Jirga while the main headquarters offices are located in Kanwari Colony, Mangopir area.
He revealed that Taliban had killed Shair Zaman Mehsude, a notorious elder of Pukhtoons in Sohrab Goth area and his two brothers in Karachi and also issued CD of the ruthless murder.
Shair Zaman was the known leader in Pukhtoon-dominated areas and had been associated with TTP and nominated in several high profile cases including the attack on SP Gdap Rao Anwar but had disassociated himself before his murder. He pointed out that the Kanwari Colony, Pukhtoonabad and Itahad Town were among the strong hold areas of TTP where men wearing trousers are not allowed and not even the security personnel are supposed to go inside the areas. Police sources said that TTP had killed two policemen and several others over suspicion.
Rana Gull Afridi, ANP central leader while talking to TheNation told that we have informed authorities concerned about the situation. The situation would be more critical if authorities concerned did not take up the issue on priority basis because Karachi is different from Swat, Malakand and other tribal areas, he added. We do not believe in violent struggle but if government did not resolve the issue then we will have to do something for our survival, he said.
IG Sindh Fayyaz Laghari and SP Rao Anwar declined to comment on the issue when contacted.
Some police officials of district revealed that worst situation is in the offing and it would be difficult for the law enforcement agencies to bust such an organised network.Police officials were also seen happy because of decline in crime rate in the areas dominated by TTP.
Crime Investigation Department (CID) SSP Fayyaz Khan told TheNation that police department had already been working on the issue and was chalking out the strategy to deal with the Taliban who appeared in the form of organised network.
SP Khan acknowledged Talibanization in these areas and also said that a concrete strategy is needed to wipe them out.
Looks like Taliban is emerging as an alternate govt in Pakistan
