Case against Pakistani militant shows tough road ahead for any peace deal to end Afghan war

Posted by Admin On Friday, 28 October 2011 0 comments

By Associated Press, Updated: Friday, October 28.



  • ( Khalid Tanveer / Associated Press ) - In this photo taken on July 15, 2011, Malik Ishaq, center, a leader of the banned Sunni Muslim group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, and his colleagues raise hands to response their supporters who greeted him with rose-petals upon his arrival at hometown after his release from jail, in Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan. Fourteen years in prison had not tempered one of Pakistan’s most feared extremist leaders: Within days of his release, Ishaq was preaching murderous hatred toward Shiites infront of cheering crowds, energizing a militant network whose members have joined al-Qaida for terror strikes.
  • ( B.K. Bangash / Associated Press ) - In this photo taken on Oct. 6, 2011, Thousands of supporters of a banned Sunni Muslim group Sipha-e-Sahaba take part in a rally in Islamabad, Pakistan. Fourteen years in prison had not tempered one of Pakistan’s most feared extremist leaders: Within days of his release, Ishaq was preaching murderous hatred toward Shiites infront of cheering crowds, energizing a militant network whose members have joined al-Qaida for terror strikes.
  • ( Arshad Butt, File / Associated Press ) - EDS NOTE GRAPHIC CONTENT - FILE - In this Oct. 4, 2011 file photo, Shiite Muslims mourn over the death of their relative killed in the sectarian violence, at a local hospital in Quetta, Pakistan. Sectarian violence has been common in Pakistan since the 1980s, but the emergence of al-Qaida and the Taliban _ Sunni extremists who also despise Shiites _ since 2005, has led to a more violence, with Shiites far more commonly targetted.
  • ( Arshad Butt, File / Associated Press ) - EDS NOTE GRAPHIC CONTENT - FILE - In this Sept. 20, 2011 file photo, people gather near bodies of Shiite Muslims killed in the sectarian violence in Mastung near Quetta, Pakistan. Sectarian violence has been common in Pakistan since the 1980s, but the emergence of al-Qaida and the Taliban _ Sunni extremists who also despise Shiites _ since 2005, has led to a more violence, with Shiites far more commonly targetted.
( Khalid Tanveer / Associated Press ) - In this photo taken on July 15, 2011, Malik Ishaq, center, a leader of the banned Sunni Muslim group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, and his colleagues raise hands to response their supporters who greeted him with rose-petals upon his arrival at hometown after his release from jail, in Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan. Fourteen years in prison 
ISLAM NAGAR, Pakistan — The deal saw one of Pakistan’s most feared militants walk from jail apparently in exchange for his commitment to nonviolence, help in reining in other fighters and possibly delivering the votes of his followers.
Supporters showered Malik Ishaq with rose petals when he left the prison in the eastern city of Lahore in July. Days later, he was preaching murderous hatred toward minority Shiites to crowds of cheering Sunnis, energizing a network whose members have joined al-Qaida for terror strikes. That was too much for Pakistani authorities, who arrested him again last month.
Pakistan has a well-documented history of trying to coopt or strike deals with militants of various causes, and a close examination of the Ishaq case shows how that can play out.
It’s a cautionary tale, perhaps, for U.S. officials who are urging Pakistan to bring to the negotiating table Afghan militants who enjoy safe havens in the country’s lawless border regions.
Fifteen years ago, Ishaq founded Laskhar-e-Jangvi, or LeJ, which allies itself with al-Qaida and the Taliban. The LeJ is blamed for scores of attacks on Shiites, regarded as infidels, and on Pakistani and U.S. interests.
Ishaq was arrested in 1997 and accused in more than 200 criminal cases including the killings of 70 Shiites.
But the state could never make the charges stick — in large part because witnesses, judges and prosecutors were too scared to convict.
Frightened judges treated him honorably in court and gave him tea and cookies, according to Anis Haider Naqvi, a prosecution witness in two cases against Ishaq. One judge attempted to hide his face with his hands, but Ishaq made clear he knew his identity in a chilling way: He read out the names of his children, and the judge abandoned the trial, he said.
Despite the lack of convictions, Ishaq remained in prison for 14 years as prosecutors slowly moved from one case to the next.
Ishaq proved his usefulness to the army in 2009, when he was flown from jail to negotiate with militants who had stormed part of the military headquarters in Rawalpindi and were holding hostages there, said Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi, who used to advise the Punjab provincial government on religious matters.
A behind-the-scenes effort by the government to co-opt the leaders of militant outfits and bring them into mainstream political life, or at least draw them away from attacking the state, helped Ishaq secure his July 15 release, according to Ashrafi.
“I met Ishaq several times in prison,” Ashrafi said, emphasizing that Ishaq assured him that he wanted to contribute to peace. “If someone wants to get back to normal life, yes, why not, we do help him,” said Ashrafi. “These are our own men.” He said he was disappointed to see him back in jail.
Punjab law minister Rana Sanaullah Khan denied there was any deal behind Ishaq’s release, but said extremist leaders were free to join politics if they eschewed violence. “We are in touch with those who have become, or want to become, useful citizens,” he said.


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