In the mid-1980s, Sipah-e Sahaba Pakistan broke off from
Jamiat-ul Ulema-e-Islam (JUI), Pakistan's main religio-political
organization. SSP was formed as a response to Shiite
militant groups who were targeting Sunnis in the Punjab
region of Pakistan. One of the leaders, Maulana Muhammad
Azam Tariq (Late) also served as a minister in the
coalition government in Punjab during 1993. It is also
one of the five militant outfits that were banned by
General Pervaiz Musharraf on January 12, 2002.
