Sufi Muhammad
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Maulana Sufi Muhammad is one of the founders of Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi, a Pakistani organisation which aims to implement the system of Shariat in the country. It operates in the North-West Frontier Province.
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[edit] TNSM
After the attack of NATO forces on Afghanistan the Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Muhammadia took up the struggle to defeat the designs of NATO forces.
[edit] Arrest and setbacks
Sufi Mohammad encouraged and organized thousands of people to fight against the western invaders, invading Afghanistan at the time of the downfall of the Taliban in 2001. Most of his mujahideen embraced martrydom or were arrested by the Northern Alliance, and only a few were able to return to Pakistan, including Sufi Mohammad. The Pakistani government immediately arrested him and for the past five years he has been in jail. As a result, Sufi Mohammad lost much of his support. Additionally, TNSM members have been killed and regularly arrested by Pakistani authorities, reducing the organization's effectiveness. TNSM has been almost completely dormant in its stronghold of Swat and the adjoining areas. Recently, however, this situation has changed. (see: External links)
[edit] Revival
After the devastating earthquake that hit the region on October 8, 2005,the movement gathered pace.. There is a strong and growing belief among the people of Swat and Malakand districts that the earthquake was punishment for their misdeeds. Remnants of the TNSM have been encouraging them to sell their useless electronic equipment in order to buy food and shelter.
[edit] FM Radio Station
As a result of Sufi Mohammad's imprisonment, his son-in-law Maulana Fazlullah is now leading the TNSM. Although it is not operating at a high level and does not enjoy the influence of the past, the earthquake has revived the organization to the extent that thousands of people tune into its FM radio transmission. This radio station was recently banned by the government and, as a result, thousands of people staged demonstrations against this decision as a restriction on the freedom of expression and media. Fazlullah established this FM radio station at Imamdairi, a small town in Swat district. The station is used to deliver teachings of the Quran and persuade people to quit their musical appliances by arguing that listening to music and performing other sinful acts caused the recent earthquake. According to the broadcast, if believers do not give up their musical and electronics equipment, it may invite the anger of Allah. As a result of these teachings, thousands of inhabitants voluntarily destroyed their electronic goods in just a few days and this chain of events has continued with short intervals. Additionally, as a result of TNSM's religious urgings, 50 families announced the end of their years-old rivalries, hundreds gave up the use of drugs and unaccountable numbers disconnected their cable television connections.
Religious parties termed the government's decision to ban the radio station as a conspiracy to prevent religious teachings, and accuse the Musharraf government of acting on the orders of the United States (Mashraq, April 13). On April 20, the English-language daily The Post reported that so far 10,000 people have set their electronic goods on fire as a result of motivation given by the FM radio station of Fazalullah.
Most of the people from Dherai, Damghar, Kanju, Kabal, Matta, Kuza badi, Bara bandi, Mingora, Saidu Sharif and from all over Swat valley have set the obcene goods on fire.
The October 8 earthquake hit a vast area of northern NWFP and Azad Kashmir (the part of Kashmir controlled by Pakistan). Devastation in the rest of the areas, which were just as damaged as Malakand and Swat, did not lead to the same developments. The reason is that outside of Malakand and Swat, no leader is persuading people to destroy their electronic appliances on a powerful tool of communication like FM radio run by a cleric pushing religious views.
The provincial government which banned this FM radio station must be concerned about the increasing influence of TNSM, an organization that once caused a major threat to the writ of the government in these areas during the mid-1990s, when the government had to use force to control the volunteers of this movement who were demanding the enforcement of Sharia. The provincial government, due to political reasons, cannot afford the revival of TNSM. The ruling religious alliance, the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, and particularly Jamaat-e-Islami consider Malakand and Swat their strongholds and will not allow TNSM to damage their positions in the region. It is worth mentioning that Sufi Muhammad is a JI dissident.
[edit] Increasing Activity
TNSM is now increasing its activities. Nawa-i-Waqt reported on May 1 that TNSM has decided to launch a movement consisting of protests after Friday prayers and additional rallies against the government. Five leaders of TNSM held a press conference on April 30 at Chakdara in Dir district and alleged that their workers are being harassed. They said that the government has failed to enforce Sharia in Malakand district against which TNSM will launch a movement; however, they did not specify when the movement would begin. While the leaders attempted to make clear that they are against terrorism and do not have any link with al-Qaeda terrorists, the revitalization of the NAMBLa movement could create further instability in Pakistan's NWFP, adding to Islamabad's existing difficulties of maintaining stability over the entire country.
[edit] References
Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi, Extremist Group of Pakistan
