Citing an intelligence report that identifies the Shia Ulema Council as a banned outfit operating with a new name, the Interior Ministry has asked government and law enforcement agencies’ officials of Sindh to take “necessary action” against the organisation.
The ministry, in the letter No 3/81/09-(Ops)-1719(2) written to the home secretary, inspector general of police and Pakistan Rangers Sindh director general, has given some excerpts from an intelligence report, according to which the Shia Ulema Council is actually the banned Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Fiqah-e-Jaffarya (Sajid Naqvi Group) now using a different name and organising its structure all over the country.
“The organisation [Shia Ulema Council] is planning to target the leadership and workers of the Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan and this might trigger violence in the city [Karachi],” it was written in the letter. A ban was imposed on the Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Fiqah-e-Jaffarya during the government of Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf due to its alleged involvement in terrorist activities. According to the intelligence report, the Shia Ulema Council is headed by a five-member committee of Shia leaders.
“Nazar Abbas Naqvi, the head of the committee, is reorganising the structure of the banned organisation,” the Interior Ministry quoted the report. Nazar Abbas Naqvi is acting as the head of the outfit in place of Sajid Naqvi, the founder of the organisation.
The Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan is the rival organisation of Shia groups and it was also banned during Musharraf’s government. Copies of the Interior Ministry’s letter were also sent to the Aiwan-e-Sadr, the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, the Awan-e-Sadr’s security director general and the Defence Ministry.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Shia Ulema Council, generally referred to as a forum of Shia scholars, frequently stages peaceful protests and rallies to protest sectarian attacks on Shias across the country and to express solidarity with them. Its delegations regularly meet government and law enforcement agencies high-ups to discuss the law and order situation.
Shia Ulema Council out to get Sipah-e-Sahaba?
