Name of the organization

Ansar Ul Islam

Formation

Ansar ul Islam was founded in 2004 by a Sufi preacher Pir Saifur Rehman. It was formed in reaction to the growing threat from Lashkar-e-Islam (LeI). Mufti Munib Shakir, the leader of LeI was a hard line Sunni cleric who rejected Sufism and wanted to contain Pir Saifur Rehman, who was from barelvi school of thought and was promoting the teachings of Sufism in the area[1]

 

 

Leadership

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was founded by Pir Saifur Rehman in 2004, now the group is lead by Qazi Mehboob ul-Haq[2]. Saifur Rehman was a cleric who followed Barelvi school of thought. He was expelled from Khyber Agency in 2007[3]. (When the fighting between Lashkar-e-Islam and Ansar-ul-Islam intensified, the government asked the local elders to play their role in diffusing the situation. A number of meetings held between the local elders and at the end it was decided to expel Pir Saifur Rehman and Mufti Munib Shakir from the area).

 

School of thought

 

 

They belong to Barelvi sect of Islam. Pir Saifur Rehman was inspired from Sufism and was apparently preaching it. Due to constant threats from Laskar-e-islam they organize its own militia[4].

Structure of the organization.

 

 

 

 

No such information is available.

Status

 

It has been banned by Pakistan on 30 June 2008[5] corresponding notification number[6]  

F.7/26/2001-Poll-I(3).

.They are active and operating in the Tirah valley of Khyber Agency[7].

 

 

Recruitment tools & demographics

 

 

Most of their recruits are locals almost from any tribes in Bara and Tirah valley of Khyber agency. They act as religious police in the area and also provide security to the people from other terrorists’ organizations in Tirah Valley[8]. No such other activity has been reported about them.

Financial resources

 No information is available.

Ideology

 

They are against the presence of Foreign troops in Afghanistan[9].

Areas of Operation

 

 

Khyber Agency[10].

 

 

Who are they?

Pir Saif ur Rehman a Sufi cleric founded Ansar ul Islam’ Militia[11]. It was meant to protect Ansar ul Islam followers from Lashkar e Islams mufti Shakir aggression. Over the period of time, they have been fighting each other for dominance in the area of Bara’ Khyber agency. Ansar ul Islam is considered to be less brutal then other terrorist organizations in the area, however it has still been involved in various incidences of violence i-e clashes with lashkar Islam 2006 and killing and kidnapping of its militants in bara, Khyber agency[12].

History

Ansar ul Islam was founded in 2004, to counter the growing influence of Lashkar e Islam. The head of the group Pir Saif ur Rehman was preaching Sufism in the Bara’ Khyber Agency. The Deobandi reacted to that. The differences reached to the arm conflict. Pir founded his own Militia for the protection of his followers in the area. Many clashes have been reported from the area between these two groups.  During 2014 clashes with LI, Ansar ul Islam has been pushed back and restricted to the Tirrah valley of Khyber Agency[13]. 

Organization’s Message                                                 

They are from Barelvi sect and are preaching their ideology. They are against the teachings  Deobandi’ school of thought[14].

Target Audience

No information is available.

Tools

N/A

Splinter groups

No information is available.                                                                   

 

Annexure

 

Lashkar-e-Islam

Lashkar-e-Islam (LeI) terrorist/militant organization, Based in Bara’ Khyber agency. The group had begun its activities in 2004 against Barelvi group (Pir Saif ur Rehman’ Ansar ul Islam group) so, basically its foundation was based on sectarian differences. LeI had illegal FM channels in the area for propagation of its own version of Islam and sharia. They wanted to control and dominate the area and spread its influence[15].

Sufism

It is defined as "mystical Islamic belief and practice in which Muslims seek to find the truth of divine love and knowledge through direct personal experience of God[16]."

 


 

[1] Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty, Pakistan’s islamists militia Ansar ul Islam and its fight for influence. Accessed on June 30, 2015. Retrieved from http://www.rferl.org/content/pakistan-ansar-ul-islam-taliban-ttp/24886662.html

[2] Ibid.

[3] STANFORD UNIVERSITY, Mapping militanat organizations, retrieved on July 1, 2015, retrieved from http://web.stanford.edu/group/mappingmilitants/cgi-bin/groups/view/445#note1

[4] Ibid.

[5] GOVERNMENT OF PAKISTAN, NATIONAL CRISIS MANAGEMENT CELL MINISTRY OF INTERIOR List of terrorists organizations, accessed on July 7, 2015, retrieved from  http://nacta.gov.pk/Download_s/__bannedOrgs.pdf

[6]  Accessed online from: http://nacta.gov.pk/Download_s/__bannedOrgs_old.pdf date of access: 14 July 2015

[7] Ibid.

[8] Zia Ur Rehman writes, accessed on June 30, 2015. Retrieved  from https://afpakwatch.wordpress.com/tag/ansar-ul-islam/

[9] STANFORD UNIVERSITY, Mapping militanat organizations, retrieved on July 1, 2015, retrieved from http://web.stanford.edu/group/mappingmilitants/cgi-bin/groups/view/445#note1

[10] Ibid.

[11] Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty, Pakistan’s islamists militia Ansar ul Islam and its fight for influence. Accessed on June 30, 2015. Retrieved from http://www.rferl.org/content/pakistan-ansar-ul-islam-taliban-ttp/24886662.html

[12] STANFORD UNIVERSITY, Mapping militanat organizations, retrieved on July 1, 2015, retrieved from http://web.stanford.edu/group/mappingmilitants/cgi-bin/groups/view/445#note1

[13] STANFORD UNIVERSITY, Mapping militant organizations, retrieved on July 1, 2015, retrieved from http://web.stanford.edu/group/mappingmilitants/cgi-bin/groups/view/445#note1

[14] Ibid.

[15] STANFORD UNIVERSITY, Mapping militant organizations, retrieved on July 2, 2015, retrieved from http://web.stanford.edu/group/mappingmilitants/cgi-bin/groups/view/445