When I got the phone call at sunrise inviting me to meet ‘Hazrat Maulana Sahib’ who had 'returned a victor,' I bolted out of my house at the opportunity no journalist would turn down.
It was Masood Azhar, who had been freed in exchange for releasing passengers of an Indian airliner hijacked in Kandahar. He was the biggest news in the region. I focused on speaking to him for the next two hours in Karachi’s Binori Town Islamic seminary, ignoring his young associate sitting there, who had been freed from the Indian prison along with Masood Azhar.
I couldn’t have known that the young man quietly staring at his nails would go on to become an even bigger headliner than Azhar.
Within two years, the world around me changed. 9/11 happened, Taliban’s rule ended, Mullah Omer reportedly fled burqa-clad on a motorcycle, Osama bin Ladin and Zawahiri became fugitives and Maulana Masood Azhar became a ‘most wanted’ figure. The murky war on terror had begun.
I was with the BBC World Service in London when the news broke of American journalist Daniel Pearl’s kidnapping. I had met him in Islamabad with a group of foreign journalists a few weeks ago after flying into Pakistan to cover post 9/11 events. His smiling face flashed through my mind when I saw the grotesque photograph released by his kidnappers. The kidnappers called themselves the National Movement for the Restoration of Pakistan’s Sovereignty using the email account: [email protected].
Then came the dramatic arrests. Omar Sheikh was brought before an anti-terrorism court in Karachi in handcuffs, and the sidekick of the Kashmir jihad ideologue Masood Azhar, was charged for masterminding Pearl’s brutal murder.
Azhar had pointed out Sheikh's value when introducing him at the Islamic seminary of Binori Town: “He speaks their language, he looks like them (foreigners) but his soul belongs to Jihad,” he had told me.
It had seemed like typical rhetoric at the time but he was probably chosen by terror networks for that purpose. He was arrested for kidnapping foreign tourists in India, by luring them in by his sophisticated conversation. Now Daniel Pearl, another foreigner, had been trapped by him.
I was intrigued by his profile as more information poured in. Born into a wealthy business family in London, schooled in the elite Aitchison College in Lahore, he went to the private Forest school in Snaresbrook, and then the prestigious London School of Economics. I met his class fellow at LSE, who described him as somebody extremely intelligent but who would flare up during discussions.
Sheikh went to the Balkans in the mid-90s and then resurfaced in India where he was arrested.
“He would often talk about the condition of Muslims in Balkans and Kashmir and that Muslims should help themselves instead of appealing to western powers,” his college mate told me.
“There was some secrecy… at one moment he would be hanging out and arm-wrestling with his friends, and then would suddenly walk off and no one would hear from him for days,’ he recalls.
From London to the Balkans, and from Kashmir to Kandahar, Omar Sheikh ran into the dark alleys of terror networks finally to be caged in Karachi.
A year later in 2003, I came back to cover Pakistan and Afghanistan. I co-authored a special report titled ‘Who Killed Daniel Pearl?’ with Tim McGirk of TIME magazine. I spent days in Karachi following the trail and our investigation revealed, reportedly for the first time, that Al Qaeda’s key leader, Khalid Sheikh Mohammad slaughtered Daniel Pearl. KSM later confessed to American interrogators of killing the American journalist and is currently imprisoned in Guantanamo Bay.
The Pearl murder case also left tracks in the formation of the deadly nexus between Al Qaeda, splinters of militant outfits which fought in Afghanistan, and sectarian outfit Lashkar e Jhangvi (LeJ) which was involved in the ruthless act.
Omar Sheikh played the role of a bridge.
“Omar met Daniel Pearl with pseudonym. He was in touch with Al Qaeda, tricked and trapped him, set the meeting place, and delivered him to KSM through Jihadi militants,” says senior police official, who investigated the case.
On the day of his kidnapping, Pearl met Jameel Yusuf, who was heading a committee which liaisons with Karachi police.
Jameel recalls: “We were talking about the changing patterns in crime and terrorism post 9/11. Then his phone rang.”
“I can join you soon, probably in 15 minutes,” Jameel overheard Daniel Pearl telling the caller. Jameel also assisted Pakistani and American intelligence sleuths who traced the missing links which subsequently led to the arrest of Omar Sheikh.
Once behind bars, Sheikh's life was bound to change.
“Initially amid anti American sentiments, for Jihadis he was a brand name. He would portray himself as a hero,” a senior jail official Aman Ullah of Karachi central prison once told me.
“He used to believe it was a matter of few years. He will be a free man again,” the official, who was later killed in Karachi violence, told me.
Sheikh was sentenced to death. He has been imprisoned in solitary confinement for the past eighteen years. Is he a different man now? A broken man? And can his story have a redemptive arc?
“He seems disillusioned,” says a senior investigator who recently met Sheikh in the Hyderabad prison. “He looks ten years older than his age. His beard has almost turned white. His aggressive tone has changed.”
But then the same investigator discovered Sheikh had written a guidebook while in his death row cell, on how to wage war in India titled ‘Ghazva-i-Hind.”
He is as enigmatic for authorities as he was for his college friends. Some officials call him an “inexperienced terrorist” who had botched up both the kidnapping cases he was involved in and got himself arrested. Others describe him as extremely bright - brainy enough to have bluffed lie detector machines during FBI investigations.
“He is a fascinating character, his story is like a Greek tragedy,” says Omer Shahid, a senior police investigator and an author of thriller novels. In fact a main character of Shahid’s novel, The Spinner’s Tale, is inspired by Sheikh and main events carry similarities with real events revolving around the kidnapping and murder of an American journalist.
But Omar Sheikh’s story recently took a dramatic turn when his sentence was commuted last month and his three aides acquitted for lack of evidence by the high court in Karachi.
The US denounced the verdict with top US diplomat for South Asia, Alice Wells saying it was “an affront to victims of terrorism everywhere."
Daniel Pearl’s tragic, stricken parents now seek justice from Pakistan’s superior judiciary to overturn the ruling which freed four men convicted in their son’s kidnapping and murder.
“We are standing up for justice not only for our son, but for all our dear friends in Pakistan, so they can live in a society free of violence and terrorism,” they said in an emotional video message.
Pakistani authorities have already ordered Omar Sheikh and three other men to be kept in prison for three additional months and the superior judiciary is likely to take up the case soon.
For Pakistan’s security establishment he is a liability, and freeing him will bring disrepute to the country.
For terror outfits he is a spent bullet.
And so, Omar Sheikh, the once mysterious runner in the dark alleys of terror networks seems trapped in the maze for life.
Omar Sheikh: terror’s maze runner
https://arab.news/zcz48
Omar Sheikh: terror’s maze runner
- Sheikh’s story took a dramatic turn when his sentence was commuted last month and his three aides acquitted for Daniel Pearl's murder
- Born into a wealthy business family in London, Sheikh attended elite private schools in the UK and Pakistan
Pakistan’s top court conditionally allows military courts to declare reserved judgments in May 9 cases
- Supreme Court says judgments can only be announced in cases in which people can be released before Eid Al-Fitr
- Attorney general says 20 people can be released before the Muslim religious festival is celebrated next month
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday allowed military courts to announce judgments reserved in cases against civilians linked to the May 9 violence that erupted last year after the brief detention of former Prime Minister Imran Khan on corruption charges.
Demonstrators, identified with Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, targeted government buildings and military installations, notably setting ablaze the official residence of a senior army general in Lahore.
This incident prompted a significant crackdown on PTI leaders and supporters, with the government facing allegations of arbitrary arrests and custodial torture, which it denied.
Following the May 9 events, military authorities sought to prosecute civilians involved in the assaults on its properties nationwide. However, the move was challenged, and a five-member Supreme Court bench deemed civilian trials in military courts unconstitutional in October.
The government has since appealed the decision.
The Supreme Court said during the hearing today that only the verdict in those cases should be announced in which the people on trial can be released before the Eid Al-Fitr festivities next month.
“Twenty out of 103 suspects involved in the May 9 incidents will be released before Eid,” Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan told the court. “These 20 individuals will be released following the established procedure.”
The PTI has complained of being unjustly targeted by state institutions since the downfall of its administration in a parliamentary no-confidence vote in April 2022.
Khan himself remains behind bars in a high-security prison in Rawalpindi after being convicted in a number of cases in recent months.
PM Sharif seeks swift implementation of Security Council’s ceasefire resolution in Gaza
- The PM says Pakistan stands shoulder to shoulder with Palestinians ‘who are fighting against oppression’
- Pakistan has consistently called for a viable and geographically contiguous Palestinian state at the UN
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday called for the swift implementation of the United Nations Security Council’s ceasefire resolution in the Gaza Strip to end Israel’s relentless military campaign against the people of Palestine which has lasted for over five months.
Israel launched its campaign after a surprise attack was initiated by Hamas on Oct. 7 in response to the deteriorating condition of Palestinian people living under Israeli occupation. Since then, Israel has killed over 32,000 Gaza residents, most of them women and children, by targeting hospitals and residential neighborhoods.
The Security Council demanded an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas earlier this week in what was viewed as a massive legal blow to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration that has been widely accused of running a genocidal campaign against Palestinians.
The resolution was passed after the United States abstained from the vote.
The Pakistani prime minister mentioned the UN resolution at an iftar-dinner hosted by the foreign ministry to honor the members of the diplomatic community in the country.
“Pakistan welcomes the UN Security Council resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza,” he said while addressing the gathering. “Immediate implementation of the UN Security Council’s ceasefire resolution in Gaza is necessary.”
He noted that Ramadan was a month of peace, blessings and generosity, adding that the gathering reflected his country’s cultural values and interfaith harmony.
“We stand shoulder to shoulder with unarmed Palestinians and Kashmiris who are fighting against oppression even during Ramadan,” the prime minister added.
Pakistan has consistently called for a ceasefire in Gaza at the United Nations and other international forums while seeking a viable and geographically contiguous Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders.
Pakistan PM to meet chief justice amid allegations of intelligence meddling in judicial matters
- The meeting was scheduled following the top court’s deliberations over the accusations made by six high court judges
- The judges had complained of coercion by intelligence agencies in a letter to Supreme Judicial Council earlier this week
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to meet Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa today, Thursday, apparently to discuss the allegations made by six Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges in a letter about intelligence agencies’ meddling in judicial affairs.
The meeting is expected to take place a day after the Supreme Court held a full court meeting to deliberate on the issue without issuing a statement or decision.
The six judges, out of a total IHC strength of eight, sent a written request to the Supreme Judicial Council earlier this week to hold a judicial convention to discuss how intelligence agencies put judges under pressure and coerce them to issue desired verdicts.
“The prime minister, along with the attorney-general of Pakistan, is scheduled to have a meeting with the chief justice on the court’s premises at about 2pm today,” the attorney-general’s office confirmed to Arab News over the phone.
It declined to provide further details about the agenda of the meeting.
Prior to the development, Pakistani bar associations called for a transparent inquiry into the matter while reacting to the letter.
“The concerns highlighted in the letter are indeed grave and warrant immediate attention,” Pakistan Bar Council said in a statement, demanding an investigation into the matter by a three-member committee of the Supreme Court judges.
“The contents of the letter depict a troubling narrative of attempts to undermine autonomy of the judiciary and influence judicial proceedings for political ends,” it continued.
The six judges provided various examples of alleged interference, including a case concerning Pakistan’s imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan. They informed that when two of the three judges on the bench deemed a plea to disqualify Khan for allegedly concealing his paternity of a daughter as not maintainable, they faced pressure from “operatives of the ISI [Inter-Services Intelligence]” through their friends and relatives.
The judges also mentioned incidents where their relatives were abducted and tortured and their homes were secretly surveilled, aiming to coerce them into delivering favorable judgments in specific cases.
The Islamabad High Court Bar Association and legal experts also demanded an investigation into the issue, calling it a “serious threat to rule of law and independence of judiciary.”
Speaking to Arab News, Justice (r) Shaiq Usmani said the Supreme Judicial Council had the power to summon anybody, examine the record and evidence and record statements of those involved in a matter. He said it should take the lead and investigate the matter raised by the IHC judges.
“The Supreme Judicial Council should record statements of all those involved in this matter besides examining the available evidence to fix responsibility,” he said. “The whole process could be completed in an in-camera inquiry with integrity and without sensationalizing the matter.”
First Pakistani female Diana Legacy Award winner hopes to spotlight other humanitarians in her country
- Alizey Khan, a law graduate, has been combating food insecurity by distributing ration bags and cooked meals
- Previously, a survivor of the 2014 Army Public School shooting received the award for his deradicalization work
ISLAMABAD: A 26-year-old Pakistani humanitarian worker became the first woman from her country to win the Diana Legacy Award in recognition to her social services this month, prompting her to describe the achievement as an opportunity to bring broader recognition to other people working in her field.
The Diana Legacy Awards are presented biennially, honoring the achievements of 20 young leaders worldwide. This year’s edition of the awards coincided with Lady Diana’s 25th anniversary.
Alizey Khan, the young Pakistani humanitarian worker, is a law graduate who got the award from Prince William on March 14 at a ceremony held in London.
Khan established the Ruhil Foundation in 2016 to combat food insecurity by delivering ration bags and cooked meals to those in need. She did extensive work during the COVID-19 pandemic before providing food and other relief items to flood-hit families in Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan provinces.
Speaking to Arab News on Wednesday, she pointed out that many women in Pakistan were engaged in remarkable humanitarian and welfare efforts and deserve global acknowledgement.
“They have not received the same recognition or exposure,” she said. “Therefore, I am grateful for this award as it shines a spotlight on the valuable contributions of Pakistani women. Hopefully, it will encourage more women to step forward, receive nominations and gain recognition through prestigious international awards.”
According to the Diana Award website, Khan’s organization delivered 5,500 monthly food parcels and 10,000 meals between April 2016 and March 2022. It also expanded its focus to education and shelter by raising over $150,000.
Additionally, Khan’s humanitarian venture financed 200 weddings, distributed 600 sanitary pads, provided 1,100 blankets in winter, disbursed 1,000 interest-free emergency loans and gave monthly stipends to 25 transgender people and widows during the same period.
She said that she felt exceptionally proud when it was announced during the award ceremony that she was the first woman from Pakistan to receive the honor. Previously, only one Pakistani, Ahmed Nawaz, who survived the 2014 Army Public School shooting, received the award in 2019 for deradicalization efforts.
“I received the award due to my consistent involvement in humanitarian efforts as I commenced my humanitarian work at the age of 16, and over the past decade, I have significantly expanded both the scope and reach of my initiatives,” she said, adding that youth was considered a positive factor since the jury valued young individuals dedicated to community welfare.
Speaking about her work over the years, she said her primary focus had been on food distribution among deserving individuals that involved several transgender people and widows.
Additionally, her organization provides complete meals at weddings for underprivileged families, having already supported about 200 of them.
“We also undertake the adoption and reform of various orphanages, ensuring their efficient and effective operation by connecting them with our network of donors,” she added.
For the Diana Award, Khan said an individual’s work should demonstrate sustainability and impact over a prolonged period of time.
“Among the 20 recipients of the Legacy Award this year, I had raised the most funding for my projects, enhancing their impact and sustainability,” she added.
Khan said the award offered more than just recognition since it also included a two-year mentoring program with regular sessions with individuals in one’s own field.
“Participants have access to programs where they can connect with experts in the field and access fundraising opportunities,” she continued, adding the attention garnered in the field of welfare work aided in the growth and sustainability of one’s initiatives.
In Rawalpindi, 63-year-old drummer defies modernity to keep Ramadan suhoor spirit alive
- Imam Buksh roams Rawalpindi streets at night during Ramadan, waking up believers for pre-dawn meals
- Drummer says modern technology has threated the tradition but people still appreciate his suhoor wake-up calls
ISLAMABAD: The streets of Satellite Town, an old and upscale neighborhood in the Pakistani garrison city of Rawalpindi, reverberated with loud beats around 2am earlier this week as Imam Buksh pounded his colorful barrel drum with wooden sticks.
Houses and shops lit up behind the drummer and residents peeked out of their homes to catch a glimpse of the 63-year-old who daily roams the streets of Rawalpindi after midnight during the holy month of Ramadan, urging worshipers with his drum beats to wake up for the fast-keeping suhoor meal.
For decades a Ramadan tradition, the nocturnal practice finds itself at odds with modernity as old neighborhoods in the vast garrison city have made way for more modern housing colonies, and the drumbeaters’ usefulness has been eclipsed by TV, mobile phones and alarm clocks.
But Buksh is resolved to preserve the practice and continues his daily drum pounding from 2:30am until the Fajr prayers throughout Ramadan. For him, it’s a way to earn Allah’s blessings.
“I have been doing this here for approximately 16 years, to awaken people [for suhoor] which pleases Allah,” Buksh, who moved to Rawalpindi from the nearby Jhang district to work as a drum-beater at weddings, told Arab News on Monday.
“I fulfill my duty for Allah during the holy month of Ramadan and after completing my daily duty, I return to my place for rest every day … I used to do drum-beating in Rawalpindi back when there were only a few houses, and people used to give a rupee or a few coins as reward.”
Ramadan marks the month in which the Qur’an was revealed on Prophet Muhammad. Fasting, by abstaining from food and water from sunrise to sunset, is one of the five pillars of Islam, a grueling routine the devout repeat every day for a month.
In much of the Muslim world, particularly the Middle East, suhoor drummers call for people to wake up. Often people offer them money for their services.
“If someone gives something I accept it, otherwise I will keep going on my way as it makes me as well as people in the area happy,” Buksh said. “Many people are happy because of my drum-beating and request me from their rooftops to beat it more.”
He said he often got calls from people if he skipped a neighborhood.
“Just the other day, I received a call from someone in a colony where I used to beat the drum last year,” he said. “They asked why I had stopped coming to their area, and I explained that I cannot travel as much now.”
Buksh has four sons who have all followed in his footsteps. Two are drummers in the southern port city of Karachi, while two work from their hometown of Jhang.
Asked about his future plans, he said he wished to perform Umrah or a pilgrimage to the Muslim holy sites.
“I wish that someone would help me go to Umrah or pilgrimage to the holy places,” he said. “Wherever they can send me, I will pray for them and ask for more blessings for them from Allah.”