While Muridke, near Lahore, was the hub of Lashkar's terrorist activities till 2002, (and has since been widely documented), the terrorist group moved its operations to several other camps, located in PoK, NWFP and Sindh. Of these, least known but a highly structured extensive training facility is the one called Markaz Mohammad bin Qasim, set up near Shehdadopur, not far from Hyderabad city in Sindh.
The Qasim complex is one of the four training centres which Lashkar has been busy setting up in Sindh.
Four plots have already been bought in Hyderabad division and six in other parts of Sindh for about Rs 200 million. A 20,000 square feet plot of land has been bought on Khoasi Road, Badin, for Rs 50 lakh.
Another 43,000 sq ft has been acquired in Mitali for Rs 1crore and a new madrasa is under construction on Hala Road, Hyderabad city. Similarly, another plot has been bought in Tando Allan Yar to set up another complex.
But it is the Markaz Mohammad bin Qasim at Maldasi in Shahdadpur, near Hyderabad, which merits a closer scrutiny. Built like a fortress, it was here that jihadi recruits underwent a 21-day training camp which used to be held every month (between the fifth and 26th of each month) before the crackdown in late 2002.
The training course began with indoctrinating the new recruits with the importance and virtues of jihad. In the last week of their training, the recruits were sent out to nearby cities and towns to spread the message of Islam, promote civic sense, preach social responsibility and equality among people.
Throughout this period, their performance, ability to gather and influence people and public-speaking skills were monitored and evaluated by their mentors. It was part of the Lashkar strategy-before a recruit qualified to be a Mujahideen, he had to prove his worth as a citizen. Those who qualified were then declared fit to apply for guerrilla training at the Lashkar's camps in PoK where they were taught all about weapons, from their use and firepower to their origin and manufacturing.
The Qasim complex is one of the four training centres which Lashkar has been busy setting up in Sindh.
Four plots have already been bought in Hyderabad division and six in other parts of Sindh for about Rs 200 million. A 20,000 square feet plot of land has been bought on Khoasi Road, Badin, for Rs 50 lakh.
Another 43,000 sq ft has been acquired in Mitali for Rs 1crore and a new madrasa is under construction on Hala Road, Hyderabad city. Similarly, another plot has been bought in Tando Allan Yar to set up another complex.
But it is the Markaz Mohammad bin Qasim at Maldasi in Shahdadpur, near Hyderabad, which merits a closer scrutiny. Built like a fortress, it was here that jihadi recruits underwent a 21-day training camp which used to be held every month (between the fifth and 26th of each month) before the crackdown in late 2002.
The training course began with indoctrinating the new recruits with the importance and virtues of jihad. In the last week of their training, the recruits were sent out to nearby cities and towns to spread the message of Islam, promote civic sense, preach social responsibility and equality among people.
Throughout this period, their performance, ability to gather and influence people and public-speaking skills were monitored and evaluated by their mentors. It was part of the Lashkar strategy-before a recruit qualified to be a Mujahideen, he had to prove his worth as a citizen. Those who qualified were then declared fit to apply for guerrilla training at the Lashkar's camps in PoK where they were taught all about weapons, from their use and firepower to their origin and manufacturing.
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