Punjab: Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2020

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement on January 3, saying members of the minority Sikh community in Pakistan have been subjected to acts of violence at the holy city of Nankana Sahib. The statement said, "India strongly condemns these wanton acts of destruction and desecration of the holy place, we call upon the Government of Pakistan to take immediate steps to ensure safety, security, and welfare of the members of the Sikh community." The statement further said, "Strong action must be taken against the miscreants who indulged in desecration of the holy Gurdwara and attacked members of the minority Sikh community". The MEA’s statement comes following the reports of vandalism and stone pelting at the Gurdwara Nankana Sahib Gurdwara Nankana Sahib on January 3, by a group of locals, led by the family of a man who had allegedly abducted the daughter of an official of the Gurdwara. Read less...

Pakistan government's claims on not allowing anti-India elements to operate from its soil were exposed when its pro-Khalistan face, Gopal Singh Chawla, was given free access to mingle with Indian pilgrims at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartapur Sahib complex on January 5, reports The Times of India. As per the report, Chawla was allowed to meet the Indian devotees during the celebrations organised by Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) to mark the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh. According to sources, Pakistan's Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), which - as per intelligence sources - is under the direct command of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), allowed Chawla to lead the functions, address the gathering and meet Indian pilgrims. "Chawla has close ties with terror mastermind Hafiz Saeed and many other militants for his anti-India ranting, so he is indispensable for ISI that uses him as an anti-India Sikh face of Pakistan, and he has been accordingly awarded with various benefits," a source said. According to sources, Chawla had delivered a hate speech against India during the function. Chawla was also present at Gurdwara Nankana Sahib on January 4, during the visit of Islamic scholars and religious leaders, aimed at restoring the confidence among Pakistani Sikhs following the protest and stoning of the Gurdwara. Read less...

Half of the Lahore city (Lahore District) of Punjab Province in Pakistan is no more under surveillance of the Punjab Safe City Authority (PSCA) mainly due to financial issues following a ‘tug of war’ between the police and bureaucracy to get control of the PKR billion mega project, reports Dawn. Official sources say almost 50 per cent (4,000) CCTV cameras are offline at a time when Lahore prepares to host some games of the Pakistan Super League and possibly the Bangladesh cricket team matches. An unnamed senior official said almost half of the city’s leading roads, sensitive installations and government buildings were now out of the range/coverage of the PSCA cameras. “It is a matter of serious concern that the PSCA cameras are not functioning even at prime locations like Faisal Chowk, Regal Chowk, Ali Hajvery shrine and surroundings of the Lahore High Court where terror attacks had been carried out in the past, “the official said. Read less...

Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi on January 17 has sentenced 86 members of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), including TLP chief Khadim Hussain Rizvi's brother Ameer Hussain Rizvi and nephew Mohammad Ali, to 55-year prison terms each for taking part in violent rallies in 2018 over the acquittal of a Christian woman in a blasphemy case, reports Daily Times. The trial had lasted for over a year. Additionally, the court ordered the convicts to collectively submit Rs 12,925,000 and directed authorities to seize their moveable and immoveable assets. The court was hearing a case registered in the Pindighep Police Station against TLP workers who held violent protests and clashed with the Police over the arrest of party chief Khadim Hussain Rizvi in 2018. Pir Ejaz Ashrafi, a senior leader of TLP, said the sentences will be appealed. “Justice has not been done,” Ashrafi said. “We will challenge the verdicts,” he added. Read less...

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore on January 27 sentenced two members of the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) to 15 days in jail in terror financing case, reports Times of India. “The ATC in Lahore convicted JuD members — Haji Iqbal and Muhammad Haris — in terror financing case registered by the Federal Investigation Agency,” a court official said. Read less...

The chief of the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), identified as Harmeet Singh alias ‘Happy PhD’ was killed by a local gang at the Dera Chahal Gurdwara near Lahore District in Pakistan on January 27, reports Hindustan Times. According to security officials, members of a local criminal gang killed Harmeet Singh over financial disputes stemming from drug smuggling. Harmeet Singh was allegedly involved in the murders of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leaders in Punjab of India in 2016-2017. He was wanted in India in several cases involving the smuggling of weapons and drugs from Pakistan. According to sources, he was believed to have assumed the role of KLF chief after the outfit’s head, Harminder Mintoo, was held by Punjab Police (India) from Thailand in 2014. Singh was a resident of Chheharta town in Amritsar District of Punjab in India and had a doctorate that earned him the alias ‘PhD’ and for two decades, he was living in Pakistan. Read less...

Suspected militants blew up a major gas pipeline near Sindh-Punjab border in Rahim Yar Khan District on January 28, disrupting gas supply to many areas, reports Pakistan Today. The pipeline, which was exploded using a time device, is an act of terrorism, Sohail Gulzar, a senior official at the Sui Northern Gas Company Limited (SNGPL), said. Read less...