Daily Times, June 8, 2006
‘LJ getting into action again’:Interior Ministry orders police to protect Shias
By Shahzad Malik
ISLAMABAD: The Interior Ministry has directed the police chiefs of the four provinces, Islamabad and Northern Areas to provide security to prominent Shia leaders and imambargahs.
The ministry issued the directive after intelligence agencies reported that activists of banned organisation the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LJ) were planning to kill Shia leaders. The LJ has been declared a terrorist organisation by the Pakistan government and the United States.
The National Crisis Management Cell of the Interior Ministry revealed that Abu Khabab, an Egyptian activist of Al Qaeda and an expert in bomb-making, had promised to assist LJ attacks on Shia targets in the country.
A report filed by the intelligence agencies to the ministry said the LJ activists Abdullah of Vehari, Moavia Bhai of Hangu, Saifullaha Abbasi of Abbottabad and Shoaib Khan of Peshawar had formed a gang and were planning attacks on the Shia community.
It said the gang had listed Shia leaders residing in Gilgit and worship places, including Jamiatul Muntazir in Lahore and imambargas in Binori Town and Rizvia Society in Karachi. The report said the gang had been preparing an attack and could trigger sectarian violence any time in the near future.
The ministry directed the authorities concerned to take special measures to protect imambargahs, mourning congregations and Zuljinah processions.
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