Asmatullah muawiya wiki

A statement purportedly issued by the Punjabi Taliban to media quoted Maulana Muawiya as saying that jihad would continue against the enemies of Islam. But it did not mention the region or country where the group would carry on its struggle against what it called anti-Islam forces. It added that the group had taken the decision after consultations with ulema and other elders and keeping in view the prevailing situation in the country.

According to analysts, sometimes the term is also loosely used to include the Urdu-speaking, Kashmiri and even Bengali fighters. It, however, was used more commonly after retired General Pervez Musharraf banned some militant and sectarian groups which had a strong support base in Punjab. These factions had roots largely in the southern and western districts of the province.

The Punjabi Taliban (Punjabi:

The action by the government forced them to move to the tribal backyard of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to seek safe havens and establish new camps. The Punjabi Taliban are mostly former students of madressahs and maintain a political constituency across the country, according to a security analyst. Maulana Muawiya had renounced violence a few months ago when the government started formal talks with the outlawed Tehreek Taliban Pakistan TTP.

The TTP criticised the statement of Punjabi Taliban, declaring that he had been expelled from the group. A native of Vehari, Muawiya is known to have close relationship with Al Qaeda and is considered an influential militant leader. Unlike other militant outfits, TT Punjab, which has affiliation with the Sajna group, a breakaway faction of TTP, had not been put on the list of proscribed organisations under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Asmatullah Muawiya called upon the government to take immediate steps for the rehabilitation of displaced persons in North Waziristan Agency and payment of adequate compensation. He also appealed to the tribal people who have taken refuge in Afghanistan in the wake of military operation in the North Waziristan Agency to return home.

He called upon the government at the same time to facilitate their return. Join our Whatsapp channel. Published in Dawn, September 14th ,