Terror financing probe worries politicians

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s economic hub Karachi may not have sanctuaries for terror networks including international groups like al-Qaeda or Taliban any more but during the decisive phase of Karachi targeted action, clues were found about terror financing and its nexus with certain politicians and gangs and it is something which has caused panic and may lead to a highly explosive situation.
A well informed source revealed that a political cover-up to the alleged terror financing has made the job much easier for these outlawed groups. The collection of huge money which is used in terrorism, purchase of arms and for other illegal business has made this city paradise for terror networks.
In the light of these reports and investigation, the authorities have decided to put an unofficial ban on the collection of ‘fitra and zakat’ by all the parties and groups including religious or ethnic organisations.
The terror financing also has links with some religious parties and outlawed groups and some clues have also been found about their nexus. The fate of the Karachi targeted action and Apex Committee now depends on the position which the federal government and army would take but indications are that the kind of details coming on the surface about terror financing show that there would be no roll back of operation.
If international gangs like al-Qaeda are getting financial assistance from Karachi, situation is far more alarming than the authorities have thought as disclosed in the documents regarding Rs230 billion collection. Some very sensational disclosures may come on surface in the next a few days and weeks, which may also establish the alleged links of terror financing with some politicians and bureaucrats.
Terror financing is something covered in the National Action Plan (NAP) and in one of the meetings of the Apex Committee held in Karachi in February this year, chaired by the prime minister and attended by army chief General Raheel Sharif, this aspect was highlighted and go-ahead was given in this regard.
The Rangers in Sindh has been given powers to launch crackdown on terrorists, extortionists, terror financing through narcotics, kidnapping for ransom, smuggling of arms etc.Thus Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah’s reported letter to DG Rangers regarding raid at Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), may not prevent the Rangers from its work as it has been covered under NAP as well as under Karachi targeted operation.
CM’s reaction came 24 hours after a hard hitting but not surprising speech of former president Asif Ali Zardari against the establishment. What the PPP Central Executive Committee (CEC) would decide about its future line of action, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and PML-N are ready to take head-on with the PPP on Sindh situation.
There is still a mystery as to why the former president reacted in such a manner and used such a language which certain quarters described as unacceptable. While he kept complete composure and never reacted to highly abusive language used by his old colleague and Sindh former interior minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, his reaction on developments in Sindh and indirect reference to military establishment is being seen as very dangerous.
An investigation is also underway into the allegations leveled by Dr Mirza regarding sugar mills and also on some high profile projects in Sindh.This correspondent has gathered some more information regarding the press release issued by the Rangers about the collection of Rs230 billion annually through illegal means and some high sensational disclosures have been made, which if given further green signal may lead to establish the links between some politician personalities and gangs with international terror networks and money laundering.
The press release was the follow up of February and June 4th meeting. The question is why it has been delayed for six days? This is something which has agitated the Sindh government as well as top PPP leadership.
DG Rangers Maj General Bilal Akhtar placed details of Rs230 billion collected through illegal means and proposed that the task force comprising premier intelligence agencies including Custom Intelligence and FIA be constituted to go in-depth.
The DG Rangers suggested immediate action but the Sindh government, contrary to the proposed task force, insisted on constituting a committee comprising two judges and interior secretary and this situation was enough to disappoint the Rangers.
Now whether these details would ultimately lead to political breakdown at least in Sindh or not, but the material placed before Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and army chief General Raheel Sharif indicated that in case of any hurdles created by the Sindh government or PPP, a major decision would be taken to ensure that the Karachi targeted action would not be rolled back.
Therefore, the Rangers decided to go on its own way after taking certain quarters into confidence and raided the office of SCBA.The raid at SBCA has linked to the investigation into some targeted killings by the land mafia. A senior official of Rangers told this scribe that at least 11 per cent of targeted killings in the city took place due to land disputes.
In another related developments, efforts at the high level has been initiated to bring back Lyari gang war’s main character, Uzair Baluch, who, some sources said, had agreed to cooperate with the Pakistani authorities.
So, what options have left for Sindh government and PPP? Is PPP in a position to launch a movement against the PML-N government or follow the line of action given by its leadership? Will its alleys join hands or form a grand opposition alliance?
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) which also has a lot of complaints about Karachi targeted operation still want to keep distance from PPP or Sindh government. It has not joined the government nor endorsed Mr Zardari’s speech. MQM is facing its own problems which in some cases are very serious in nature.
One has to wait and see where this situation would lead to and how far the PPP and Sindh government would go. But, if the PM and army chief are on the same page as far as Karachi operation is concerned, they may face certain political problems in this decisive phase.However, a highly explosive disclosure may put the political resistance on the back foot, which can also have far reaching international repercussions.
The writer is the senior columnist and analyst of GEO, The News and Jang.