Web Desk: A self-proclaimed religious scholar has been arrested for providing support and facilitation to the terrorist group known by Government authorities as Fitna al-Khawarij.
The arrested individual, identified as Mufti Zafaryab, maintained contact with external terrorist commanders and was involved in providing religious justifications for their activities, according to statements attributed to him following his arrest.
Authorities said Zafaryab had received religious education through an eight-year Dars-e-Nizami programme at Jamia Nizam-ul-Uloom in Bannu and later became involved in activities linked to the group.
According to the allegations, he had contact with terrorist commander Hikmat Roshan and assisted the group through religious guidance.
In a statement, Zafaryab claimed that the state institutions were aware of his contacts and later detained him over his alleged links.
Zafaryab reportedly admitted that the terrorist commander sought religious rulings from him to justify activities carried out in the name of “jihad”, including extortion.
He also alleged that Hikmat Roshan offered positions and financial benefits to him and other individuals in an attempt to expand influence.
Expressing remorse after his arrest, Zafaryab said he regretted his actions.
The arrested individual also stated that Fitna al-Khawarij had no connection with Islam and described the group’s ideology as contrary to Islamic teachings and religious principles.
He further claimed that the group promoted extremist views and justified violence against Muslims.
Security agencies have not released further details regarding the charges or legal proceedings against the detained individual.
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