Azam Tariq
Encyclopedia
Maulana Azam Tariq (March 1962 – October 4, 2003) was a co-founder of the politico-religious organisation Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan
,born in Chichawatni
. The Sipah-e-Sahaba is a Sunni, Deobandi
organization, which was officially banned by the government of Pakistan
in August 2001 for its violence against the Shi'a community.
, Azam Tariq began to associate with Haq Nawaz Jhangvi
, a hardline cleric from Jhang
who had become known for his sermons against the Shi'a denomination. Jhangvi invited Tariq to run his madrassa in order to promote his ideology. Following Jhangvi's assassination in 1990, Azam Tariq inherited the top position in the group, when he survived the explosion in Lahore
that killed another prominent front-runner for the slot, Ziaur Rehman Farooqi. During this time, the Sipah-e-Sahaba operative Riaz Basra developed differences with Azam Tariq and formed his own group, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi
.
banned seven alleged terrorist organizations, including Sipah-e-Sahaba, and Azam Tariq was arrested and jailed on charges of terrorism. A spate of killings of several prominent Shi'a leaders immediately followed, targeting those who were allegedly complicit in Tariq's arrest and the crackdown on his organization.
in Jhang Sadr, even though his constituency was a predominantly Shi'a region. He contested again in the 2002 elections
, while in custody, and was again elected. He was released in November 2002 and provided the crucial one-seat majority to the prime minister, Zafarullah Khan Jamali
, under the Musharraf government.
as he left the M2
Motorway to enter the city. Another leader, Qari Zia-ur-Rehman was also killed. Tariq's supporters blamed Shi'a sectarians for the killings, and Shi'a leader Sajid Naqvi
was arrested several days later. However, the case remains unsolved.
Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan
Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan is a militant Sunni Deobandi organization, and a formerly registered Pakistani political party, established in the early 1980s in Jhang by Maulana Haq Nawaz Jhangvi its stated goal is to primarily to deter major Shia influence in Pakistan in the wake of the Iranian...
,born in Chichawatni
Chichawatni
Chichawatni is a town in the Sahiwal District of the Pakistani province of Punjab. Situated near the Grand Trunk Road, it lies approximately from Sahiwal, the district capital.-Etymology:...
. The Sipah-e-Sahaba is a Sunni, Deobandi
Deobandi
Deobandi is a movement of Sunni Islam. The movement began at Darul Uloom Deoband in Deoband, India, where its foundation was laid on 30 May 1866.-History:...
organization, which was officially banned by the government of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
in August 2001 for its violence against the Shi'a community.
Personal life
Azam Tariq was the half brother of Ahmed Madni, a cleric associated with Ahl-i-Sunnat Wal Jamaat. Ahmed Madni was also assassinated, along with his son, in Karachi.Sectarian ideology
A graduate and teacher at the Karachi madrassa Jamia IslamiaJamia Islamia
Jamia Islamia a citadel of Islamic learning is located in Tengingundi, 5 km from Bhatkal, Karnataka, India and the place is called 'Jamia abad'. It is no exaggeration to observe that the Jamia is deeply indebted to Moulana Abdul Hamid Nadvi whose relentless presence paved the way for the birth...
, Azam Tariq began to associate with Haq Nawaz Jhangvi
Haq Nawaz Jhangvi
Haq Nawaz Jhangvi who was the son of Wali Muhammad was a controversial Pakistani cleric, who founded the Islamic organization Sipah-e-Sahaba in the 1980s. Jhangvi was born in 1954 in the town of Jhang. After completing his primary education in Arabic and Theology, he left for Multan where he...
, a hardline cleric from Jhang
Jhang
- Demographics :According to 1981 census of Pakistan population of Jhang was 1,970,944 with the 434,495 housing units in Jhang. In 1998 census, population of Jhang was 2,834,545, whose annually growth rate was 2.16%. Male population was 1,474,099 and female population was 1,360,446...
who had become known for his sermons against the Shi'a denomination. Jhangvi invited Tariq to run his madrassa in order to promote his ideology. Following Jhangvi's assassination in 1990, Azam Tariq inherited the top position in the group, when he survived the explosion in Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
that killed another prominent front-runner for the slot, Ziaur Rehman Farooqi. During this time, the Sipah-e-Sahaba operative Riaz Basra developed differences with Azam Tariq and formed his own group, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi
Lashkar-e-Jhangvi
Lashkar-e-Jhangvi is a militant organization. Formed in 1996, it has operated in Pakistan since Sipah-e-Sahaba activist Riaz Basra broke away from the SSP over differences with his seniors...
.
Arrest on the charges of terrorism
In August 2001, Pakistani president Pervez MusharrafPervez Musharraf
Pervez Musharraf , is a retired four-star general who served as the 13th Chief of Army Staff and tenth President of Pakistan as well as tenth Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. Musharraf headed and led an administrative military government from October 1999 till August 2007. He ruled...
banned seven alleged terrorist organizations, including Sipah-e-Sahaba, and Azam Tariq was arrested and jailed on charges of terrorism. A spate of killings of several prominent Shi'a leaders immediately followed, targeting those who were allegedly complicit in Tariq's arrest and the crackdown on his organization.
Mainstream politics
Azam Tariq was elected three times to the National Assembly of PakistanNational Assembly of Pakistan
The National Assembly of Pakistan is the lower house of the bicameral Majlis-e-Shura, which also compromises the President of Pakistan and Senate . The National Assembly and the Senate both convene at Parliament House in Islamabad...
in Jhang Sadr, even though his constituency was a predominantly Shi'a region. He contested again in the 2002 elections
Pakistani general election, 2002
General elections were held in Pakistan on 10 October 2002 during the military regime of Pervez Musharraf.-Parties and candidates:More than 70 parties, contested the election, the main parties were the Peoples Party Parliamentarians, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Group, Muttahida Quami Movement ,...
, while in custody, and was again elected. He was released in November 2002 and provided the crucial one-seat majority to the prime minister, Zafarullah Khan Jamali
Zafarullah Khan Jamali
Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali was the 13th Prime Minister of Pakistan and former Chairman of the Pakistan Hockey Federation.-Early life:Born in Baluchistan, Jamali was the second Baluch Prime Minister of Pakistan...
, under the Musharraf government.
Assassination
Azam Tariq was shot and killed in an attack on October 4, 2003 near IslamabadIslamabad
Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan and the tenth largest city in the country. Located within the Islamabad Capital Territory , the population of the city has grown from 100,000 in 1951 to 1.7 million in 2011...
as he left the M2
M2 motorway (Pakistan)
The M-2 is a motorway in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is 367 km long and connects Lahore with Islamabad. It passes through Kala Shah Kaku, Sheikhupura, Khanqah Dogran,Kot Sarwar, Pindi Bhattian, Salem, Lilla, Kot Momin, Kallar Kahar, Balksar, and Chakri before ending just outside the...
Motorway to enter the city. Another leader, Qari Zia-ur-Rehman was also killed. Tariq's supporters blamed Shi'a sectarians for the killings, and Shi'a leader Sajid Naqvi
Sajid Naqvi
Allama Syed Sajid Ali Naqvi is the head of the largest Shia organization of Pakistan namely Tehreek-e-Jafaria Pakistan . After a ban by Musharraf regime, it continues to work under the name of Tehrik-e-Islami....
was arrested several days later. However, the case remains unsolved.
External links
- Shia News: a partisan account of Azam Tariq's release in 2001, with a background of the history of Sunni-Shia violence in Pakistan
- Pakistan Daily Times October 7, 2004
- Shia News report of Azam Tariq's assassination
- An Eye for an Eye? Azam Tariq's assassination news by Newsline (Pakistan).