LAHORE - More than three dozen “terrorist” organisations across the country face action as part of government’s new vigorous drive against terrorism, official sources told The Nation on Thursday.
However, Baloch militant organizations, which lay down arms to join government’s peace efforts, would get amnesty as part of Peaceful Balochistan plan (Pur Aman Balochistan programme).
The killing of Punjab home minister in a terrorist attack few days ago has forced the authorities to further accelerate the anti-terror campaign to eliminate all those involved in such activities.
According to sources, all the groups allied with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and their supporting foreign terrorist organisations would be the focus of the accelerated action against terrorism. Al-Qaeda Pakistan chapter and groups affiliated with it would among the prime targets. The Baloch militants who refuse to lay down arms would also fall in the same list.
The stepped up effort against terrorism will hunt down the remaining on the run terrorists and their facilitators across the country.
Several key leaders and networks of the terrorist organisations had already been eliminated in Operation Zarb-e-Azb, Operation Khyber-1, Khyber-2 and small scale special operations in Balochistan, Sindh and Punjab.
Sleeper cells of the terrorist organisations still exist in the country despite the elimination of high-ranking terrorists and much of their infrastructure in the result of ongoing security operations in the country.
These cells are the facilitators and harbourers of on the run terrorists and the war on terror can be won in totality with their elimination.
The sources said, special sections of the state’s premier secret services will carry out intelligence-led ops for high-profile targets while civilian security departments such as counter-terrorism departments of the police and Rangers will carry out intelligence-based operations.
The terrorist organisations include: 313 Brigade, Abdullah Azam Brigade, East Turkmenistan Islamic Movement, Hizb-ul-Tehrir, Islamic Jehad Union, Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, Jaish-e-Islam, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Al-Qaeda, Pakistan chapter, Jamiat-ul-Ansar, Muttahida Mahaz, Khuddam-ul-Islam (Former Jaish-e-Mohammad), Lashkar-e-Islam, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Millat-e-Islamia Pakistan, Tehrik-e-Taliban Bajaur, Tehreek-e-Taliban Mohmand, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Tehreek-e-Taliban Swat, Amar bil Maroof Wa Nahi Anil Munkir (Haji Namdar Group), Ansar-ul-Islam, Islam Mujahidin, Islami Tehreek Pakistan, Sepha-e-Muhammad Pakistan, Haji Namdar Group, Tariq Geedar Group, Tanzeem Ahle-e-Sunnat Wal Jamat Gilgit Baltistan, Anjuman-e-Imamia Gilgit Baltistan, Jamiat-ul-Furqan, Baloch Republican Party Azad, Baloch Student Organisation Azad, Balochistan Bunyad Parast Army, Balochistan Liberation Army, Balochistan Liberation Front, Balochistan Liberation United Front, Balochistan Musalla Defah Tanzeem, Balochistan National Liberation Army, Balochistan Republican Army, Balochistan United Army, Balochistan Waja Liberation Army, Lashkar-e-Balochistan and United Baloch Army.
The total number of organisations formally banned by the authorities is 212 that included the outfits designated as “terrorist”.
The banned organisations also include charity organisations which are used for terror financing.
The charities also handled the flow of the international donations to nurture the militant networks across the country.