HuT activists resurface in capital city

ISLAMABAD: The outlawed Hizbut Tahrir (HuT) has once again started its activities in the capital city with its activists distributing pamphlets among the citizens asking them to support the outfit for the establishment of caliphate in the country. In one of its pamphlets written in Urdu, the HuT requested the people of Pakistan to ask their relatives serving in the armed forces to help the organisation achieve its mission so that the US “meets its doom in the region.” In December 2012, HuT activists holding a meeting in a house at E-11 escaped before the police and security forces arrived there to conduct a joint raid. Sources in the police and intelligence agencies said once again the activities of HuT had been spotted in different parts of the capital city, including markets, worship places and higher educational institutes. Some of the places were raided by the police and other agencies but the activists slipped away. The sources said the pamphlet also asked the people to eliminate the existence of America from Pakistan which was the basic reason behind the bomb blasts and insecurity in the country. The pamphlet also expressed concern over the operation in Waziristan, saying it was only in favour of America. “Our army should remove the American diplomats, intelligence agencies and armed forces from Pakistan.” The HuT also asked the people of tribal areas to identify the trouble makers and try to get assistance of the army to establish caliphate in the country instead of inviting others to target them. It asked them to get in touch with other people wherever it was possible such as worship places, markets and neighbourhoods to convince them about the establishment of caliphate. Similarly, they were also asked to use modern tools of communication like SMS, emails, radio, TV and the social media to spread the message. A police officer said the organisation was involved in such practices and used modern technology, including SMS and emails, to spread its views and ideology along with reactions to different events. Its activists use scores of mobile numbers and email addresses. After using a mobile phone, they switched it off to avoid being traced, he added. On a number of occasions, the activists of the organisation were arrested after being caught distributing written materials in the capital. He said for the last five years the HuT activists had been spotted at Sector I-9/4, F-6/1, F-8/3, G-6 and E-11 and Supper Market. Every time they chose different locality to conduct their activities, he said, adding the area was chosen after reconnaissance where they found low level of police vigilance and intelligence. The officer said HuT was banned in the country in 2003. Dozens of its activists arrested during the last five years were released on bail after which they went into hiding, he added. HuT became a concern after Brigadier Ali Khan was taken into custody in May 2011 for his suspected links with it, the officer said. Besides, some of the HuT activists were also arrested in the Mehran base attack case.