Exclusive: Firearms, 'Al Jihad' Chants At JeM Rally In PoK Punch A Hole In Pakistan's 'Counterterror' Claims

Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists recently staged a rally in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir’s Rawalakot city, brandishing weapons and chanting “Al Jihad Al Jihad.” Masked participants were seen carrying guns, swords, bows, and sticks during the procession, top intelligence sources told CNN-News18.

They said Mufti Masood Illiyas, a prominent JEM Commander, is believed to be behind the rally, held in the northern part of the country, near the Line of Control (LoC). This revelation raises concerns about the resurgence of terror groups in Pakistan. The rally comes at a crucial time as Pakistan faces scrutiny over its counterterrorism efforts, especially with the recent claims to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) about shutting down extremist activities. However, visual evidence of militant gatherings suggests otherwise.

Critics point out the irony of Pakistan’s claims against terrorism amid such events. The incident fuels concerns about the debt-ridden country’s status as a haven for terror groups. This rally comes less than a week after media reports said a new political party named Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (MML), believed to be a new face of the banned groups of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed, will participate in the February 8 general elections.

A BBC Urdu report said some of the candidates nominated by this organisation from different cities of Pakistan are those who are either relative of Hafiz Saeed or have been associated with the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jamaat-ud-Dawa or Milli Muslim League in the past. Quoting analysts, who monitor religious parties in Pakistan, the report on Saturday claimed the Markazi Muslim League is the ‘new political face’ of Saeed’s JuD.

The report said Saeed’s son Hafiz Talha Saeed is participating in the elections from the Markazi Muslim League party and contesting from National Assembly Constituency NA-122 in Lahore — the same constituency from which Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader and former federal minister Khawaja Saad Rafique is also contesting.

Saeed’s son-in-law Hafiz Nek Gujjar is also contesting the election from the Provincial Assembly constituency PP-162 on the ticket of the Markazi Muslim League. These reports underscore the persistent threat of terrorism in the region, raising questions about Pakistan’s commitment to combating extremism brewing in the country.