RAWALPINDI – The security agencies have asked the leaders of an Islamist organization “Tanzeem-e-Islami” to change its slogan regarding the establishment of “Caliphate” in Pakistan.

The slogan is "The message of Tanzeem-e-Islami is establishment of Caliphate in Pakistan". The Tanzeem-e-Islami came under the scanner of the country’s top security agencies after it has launched a massive campaign in the cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad against “usury,” loans that impose interest burdens on the debtors.

In this connection, the Islamist organization displayed huge banners outside banks, along roads, on bridges and placed the posters on public transport. The banners bore Quranic verses and Hadiths that prohibit an interest-based loans system.

Talking to The Nation on yesterday, an official of the country’s premier security agency said they had launched a thorough investigation into the matter after taking note of public complaints. The fear is that a banned outfit was backing the campaign by the Islamist organization “Tanzeem-e-Islami”, to establish a Caliphate in Pakistan. He added that no trace has yet been found of any underground influence on the organization, except for its controversial slogan. “We have ordered the leadership of Tanzeem-e-Islami to change their slogan as it is creating doubts among people as well as in the security agencies,” he added.

However, the official admitted that the good campaign of Tanzeem-e-Islami had tapped into resentment against the heavy burden of interest payments, which has affected a large number of people. “It is alarming that usury system has deepened its roots and mostly lower and middle class citizens have been targeted the by those who lent money on interest,” he said.