Name of the organization
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Ansar Ul Islam |
Formation
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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.
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Leadership
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It was founded by Pir Saifur Rehman in 2004, now
the group is lead by Qazi Mehboob ul-Haq.
Saifur Rehman was a cleric who followed Barelvi
school of thought. He was expelled from Khyber
Agency in 2007.
(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).
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School of thought
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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.
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Structure of the organization.
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No such information is
available. |
Status
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It has been banned by
Pakistan on 30 June 2008
corresponding notification number
.They are active and
operating in the Tirah valley of Khyber Agency.
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Recruitment tools & demographics
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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.
No such other activity has been reported about
them. |
Financial resources
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No information is
available. |
Ideology
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They are against the
presence of Foreign troops in Afghanistan.
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Areas of Operation
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Khyber Agency.
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Who are they?
Pir Saif ur Rehman a Sufi cleric
founded Ansar ul Islam’ Militia.
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.
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.
Organization’s
Message
They are from Barelvi sect and are
preaching their ideology. They are against the
teachings Deobandi’ school of thought.
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.
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."
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