SSP in bid to build common front to counter ban order

The Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP), one of the groups believed to be engaged in sectarian violence and banned recently by the Musharraf regime, is said to be now "working under a detailed plan to counter the decision".

According to sources close to the SSP leadership, the party and its chief, Maulana Azam Tariq, were aware for "some months" earlier that it faced the possibility of a ban, and had been working on a plan to tackle such a situation.

The main plank of this strategy appears to be to bring religious parties together in a common front to oppose government action.

In this respect, the SSP has also written to parties such as the Jamiaat-e-Ulema Islam, Fazlur Rahman (JUI-F), warning that it could "face a similar future" unless a stand was taken.

Similar communications are thought to have been made with other groups, with the SSP pointing out that the government appeared determined to act against all religious parties.

The JUI-F, which takes a line ideologically similar to the SSP, has apparently expressed support for the banned party and shown a willingness to take part in an anti-government campaign.

Several smaller religious groups, mainly linked to the fiercely orthodox Deobandi school of thought, are also believed to have given their consent for this.

However, groups like the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), which belong to a school of thought that differs on some key points from the JUI-F and SSP, are said to be "hesitating".

The JI has in fact, at internal meetings, discussed the possible gains for itself from a situation in which other parties, which have often expanded their activities over the last three decades, are pushed back.

The SSP also seems to believe that it is better to "take time and prepare carefully" rather than launch any immediate action. It also believes that other groups are also feeling increasingly threatened, and will be willing to back it when the time comes to stage an "all out effort" against the government.

So far, there has been no unrest in the Punjab following the ban on orthodox groups, and official sources say that it has in fact been "much quieter than expected".

However, at the same time, they also maintain that there is a readiness to act in the event of any violence, and that they are "aware there may be some plans to stir up trouble".