On 13 February 2017,
Jamaat-ul-Ahrar released a video announcing the launch of "Operation Ghazi", named after
Abdul Rashid Ghazi who was killed in July 2007 inside the
Lal Masjid.[4] The operation started with the
suicide bombing atthe Mall, in which 12 civilians and six police officers were killed.[1]
In the video, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar stated that its future targets would be legislative bodies
Pakistan Army, intelligence agencies and supporting institutions; interest-based economic institutions; INGOs/NGOs and civil society organisations involved in the advocacy of human rights, women's rights and community awareness campaigns; liberal writers, political leaders and workers; media persons; and coeducational private schools, colleges and universities.[4]
The Centrum Media released a video statement from
Abdul Rashid Ghazi's son, Haroon Rasheed Ghazi, addressing Jamaat-ul-Ahrar. "We should come up with a political solution. This bloodshed is not in the interest of anyone. Our stance is very clear; we do not endorse any violent activities," he said.
Operation Radd ul Fasaad
On 22 February 2017, in response to the Operation Ghazi,
Pakistan Army launched
Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad (lit. "Elimination of Discord") across the country.[5] The operation aimed at indiscriminately eliminating residual threat of terrorism and consolidating gains of
operations made so far. It further aimed at ensuring security of the borders. The countrywide de-weaponisation and explosive control were laid as the additional objectives of the operation.[6]
Timeline
2017
February 2017
On 13 February 2017, a
suicide bombing took place on the Mall in
Lahore, where a group of chemists and pharmaceutical personnel were demonstrating at the
Charing Cross.[1]
The same day, 2 officers of the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) were killed and 12 others were injured, when a bomb BDS personnel were trying to defuse went off. The bomb was placed near Karachi Stop on Saryab road,
Quetta.[7][8][9]
On 15 February 2017, two attacks occurred in
Ghalanai and
Peshawar. In the first attack in Ghalanai, a suicide bomber killed three policemen and two civilians near an administrative building in the
Federally Administered Tribal Areas. An accomplice was shot and killed. A second suicide bomber failed to cause any casualties when his suicide vest detonated prematurely.[2]
In the
Peshawar bombing, a vehicle carrying local judges and government officials was targeted by suicide bombers. The driver and a civilian were killed and five others were injured.[2]
On 16 February, the Punjab Police's Counter Terrorism Department raided a Jamaat-ul-Ahrar hideout in
Multan and killed 6 militants, who had resisted the operation with firing and explosives.[10]
On 21 February 2017, suicide bombers
targeted a sessions court in
Tangi,
Charsadda District. Seven persons were killed and 21 were injured.[11]
March 2017
On 5 March 2017, Pakistani military confirmed that 10 militants were killed and five soldiers lost their lives in attacks that took place in
Mohmand Agency.[12]
On 17 March 2017, al-Jazeera reported that Jamaat-ur-Ahrar militants attacked a Pakistani military border post in
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from Afghanistan, killing two Pakistani soldiers. Six militants were also killed. Also that day a military operation in
Rajgal Valley killed "several"
LeI fighters, according to the Pakistani military media wing. Pakistan's military said it had foiled an attempted suicide attack on a paramilitary training centre in
Shabqadar, in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, two suicide bombers and a soldier were killed in the attempted attack, while another soldier was wounded.[13]
On 31 March 2017, at least 22 people have been killed and more than 70 injured in a blast outside a mosque in north-west Pakistan.
Jamaat-ul-Ahrar claimed responsibility for the attack.[14]