Article by Anwar Seen Rai Published in Urdu by BBC,
People associated with power and the masses who are enslaved of the power and the associated with journalism were not only aware of the fact that Taliban groups are not only in Northern Pakistan butt are also found in the central Punjab as well.
But most newspapers, particularly Urdu newspapers and private television channel due to self restrictions and precautions have always tried to avoid the matter and mention of the word Punjabi Taliban.
BBC Urdu raised this issue, early last year to find about the facts about Punjabi Taliban the BBC correspondent Ijaz Maher visted the cities of Bhakkar, Layyah, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Muzaffargarh and Multan and met people from different walks of life and talked to them. This was published as a series of artoicles on weekly basis.
Punjabi Taliban the book of Mujahid Hussain was not yet known although the Book’s first edition was published in 2009 and now its second edition has been published in 2011.
When I spoke to Mr. Amjad Salim of “Sanjh” the publisher of the book in this regard he said I was actually apposed to publication of the book initially but after some friends advise when i read the book i felt yes this book must be published.
Amjad Saleem’s first opinion of the book was because of that “Punjabiat” of his which seems to prevail in all the people from Punjab and they feel nothing wrong can happen in Punjab, and Punjabis can never be wrong and mentioning Punjabi Taliba is actually trying to create a bad name of Punjab.
However, in intellectual circles do have a belief that Pakistani Army seems to support the militant groups and consider it as their strategic and national assets.
Khalid Khwaja a former ISI official and later kidnapped and killed confirmed this as a fact view in an interview.
Mujahid Hussain has shown with his research in this book that all groups of Punjabi Taliban has ties with Pakistan’s military intelligence and they also get their patronage from them. But this is not talked about as such Mujahis Hussain says theat in order to understand this problem you can imagine from this that most of the people in Pakistan are either lawers of Taliban or are too scared of them.
About the moderate people Mujahid Hussain says TV presenters tell Ministers, and other important personalities to leave the country or they might be killed.
There are some parts of the book where Mujahid Hussain has expressed his views which many people will disagree with but in my opinion if some thing provokes you to disagree and express yourself that is good.
Punjabi Taliban the book is worth reading in every sense especially for those who are in politics or wanting to take the politics as a career.
Book Name: Punjabi Taliban,
Author: Mujahid Hussein
Publication: March 2011 First 2009 Second
Price Rs 400
Publisher: evening, second floor, Mufti Building, 17/31 Temple Road, Lahore sanjhpks@gmail.com
