Pakistan: Police warn JUI-F chief’s son of possible terrorist attack

Maulana Asad Mahmood, the son of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) president Maulana Fazlur Rehman, was advised to limit his movement after the Dera Ismail Khan police in Pakistan alerted him to the possibility of a terrorist assault. According to the report, Saleem Khan, the sub-division police officer (SDPO), advised Maulana Asad Mahmood, the former federal minister for communications, that he was under threat from terrorists who could attack him at home or while abroad. “Under these circumstances, avoid unnecessary travel and appearances at gatherings, while keep your movements secret and keep them under limitations,” said the advisory. It stated that in order to avoid any untoward incident, Maulana Asad should not only maintain his security on high alert, but he should also notify security services of his movements. The Dera Ismail Khan district police officer has received a copy of the directive. The JUI-F has responded angrily to the police advise, and its spokesperson, Aslam Ghori, stated that it appears that the district administration and police are primarily responsible for issuing notices and advisories. At a press conference last week, JUI-F head Maulana Fazalur Rehman stated that political parties were receiving warnings from district administrations about a potentially deadly security scenario. He had threatened to hold the chief election commissioner and chief justice accountable if a terror attack injured any JUI-F employees during the electoral process. His convoy was attacked in Dera Ismail Khan two days later, although no casualties were reported. According to a Sunday story from Geo News, on December 31, a convoy led by JUI-F president Maulana Fazlur Rehman was attacked in Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The party’s spokesperson, Mufti Abrar, stated that gunfire was directed against the veteran politician’s convoy near Yarik junction from numerous directions. (With agency inputs)