Gul Bahadur Group
ISLAMABAD: In a significant development, the government has officially proscribed two militant groups, the Majeed Brigade (MB) and the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group (HGBG), adding them to the list of banned organizations.
This action brings the total number of proscribed groups in Pakistan to 81. The National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta) has updated its list of proscribed organizations to reflect these new bans.
The decision to proscribe these groups was made on July 19 and July 25, respectively, under Section 11-B-(1) and Schedule-1 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), 1997.
This legislation allows the federal government to ban organizations deemed to pose a threat to national security.
The bans on the Majeed Brigade and Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group follow Pakistan’s recent concerns regarding terrorist activities originating from Afghan territory, including an attack on the Bannu cantonment on July 15 and the continued use of Afghan soil by these groups to launch attacks inside Pakistan.
Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group is believed to operate from Afghanistan and maintains close ties with the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
This group has been linked to several high-profile attacks, including a suicide bombing on a military post in North Waziristan that killed seven soldiers in March.
The Majeed Brigade, active since 2011, is known as the suicide squad for the Balochistan Liberation Army and was responsible for an attack on the Gwadar port complex.
In addition to banning these groups, the government has reclassified the TTP, labeling it as “Fitna al Khawarij.” This designation reflects the view that the TTP’s actions are contrary to Islamic teachings and values.
The interior ministry issued a circular stating that henceforth, the TTP should be referred to as Fitna al Khawarij in all official documents and communications.
This designation aims to clarify the group’s true nature and ideology and to prevent the use of honorific religious titles such as ‘Mufti’ or ‘Hafiz’ for its members.
All government entities are instructed to implement this change immediately, and the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), has begun using the term in its press releases.
The reclassification reflects a broader critique of the TTP’s distortion of Islam to justify violence and hatred.
The group is accused of committing heinous crimes under the guise of jihad, undermining development, and targeting infrastructure and civilians in Pakistan.
Their actions, including extortion, kidnapping, and attacks on girls’ schools, are seen as efforts to derail the country’s progress and exploit young recruits.
There are also concerns about their financial backing from external sources, raising questions about their resources and the luxurious lifestyles some members lead in Afghanistan. The government’s measures aim to counteract these threats and protect national security.
