On 12^th July 2011, the Deputy to the Spokesman of Hizb ut-Tahrir in Pakistan, Imran Yousafzai, was abducted while he was on his way to a scheduled meeting with a TV reporter.  While he was being chased, he called his younger brother on his cell phone and informed him about his location and the secret agency's activity.  Next day Hayyan Khan, a computer programmer, was abducted from his car on his way to his office.  They broke the side window glass to get him out of the car.  On 21^st July 2001 the government secret agencies abducted their third prey, this time a telecom engineer from Islamabad, Osama Haneef.  He was also abducted on his way to his office.

This series of abductions actually started from the city of Multan located in southern Punjab, when they abducted a telecom engineer and member of Hizb ut-Tahrir , Aftab from his home on 3^rd July.  He was taken to an unknown location, tortured, and then, under judicial and media pressure, handed over to the police who has yet to release him.  In fact, on the contrary, the police registered a case against him under Anti-Terrorism Act for keeping "hate" literature.  There were two arrests and two illegal abductions during the month of June as well.  One of the abducted activists of Hizb was brutally tortured for three consecutive days before even asking him a single question.

This increased heavy handedness of Pakistani authorities actually shows their nervousness and vulnerability.  For the past 10 years the government has followed the policy of ignoring Hizb, containing and blacking us out in the media.  But during the last two years or so the activities of the Hizb and the response of the masses has forced the government to address and counter us.  Their agents in the press are continuously writing anti-Hizb articles.  On satellite TV channels their so-called intellectuals are fanning hatred towards Kilafah and Hizb.  And on the grounds their secret services busy chasing and abducting Hizb shabab.  This is all because the government can sense its ideological and political defeat.

This oppression reminds us of the party of the Messenger of Allah (saaw) who was tested and tortured for just saying that Allah is our Lord.  The struggle of the Messenger was purely non-violent but the Quresh saw that as a threat to their hegemony and oppression.  The stories of Bilal, Somaya, Abdullah bin Masood RA and the rest of the Sahaba shows that any change requires sacrifice and steadfastness. Hence any party who claims to emulate the method of Rasulullah to establish the Deen will also meet similar fate.  Hizb ut-Tahrir, since its inception, was banned and chased by the treacherous rulers of the Muslims world.  The shabab of Hizb have been tortured, incarcerated for decades and even boiled to death.  But Alhamdulillah they have remained steadfast fearing none but Allah and hopeful for the establishment of the Khilafah "Caliphate" and the reward in the Hereafter.

The Pakistani government is unaware that the recent change of policy of torturing and abducting shahbab will not do them any good.  They don't realize that Hizb has a long history of resilience against the tyrant rulers.  Central Asia and the Arab world are two such examples where the tyrranical Karimoves, Mubariks, Gaddafies and Asads couldn't stop Hizb and its da'wa; rather their oppression even strengthened the call.  Shabab of Pakistan are as active and as determined as ever before.  These events have further fuelled their anger towards this kufr system and the rulers.  The Ummah sees us with more and more respect and compassion.  The people of power are pulled towards us.  And Alhamdulillah we see the arrival of Kilafah, speeding towards us.

Naveed Butt

The Spokesman of Hizb ut-Tahrir in Pakistan