New Delhi, Nov 4 — Proscribed terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba is reportedly restructuring its command to rebrand itself as a legitimate political entity by integrating underground operatives into the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML) party, according to intelligence officials.
Following the international ban on the Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) and the Milli Muslim League (MML), both considered fronts for the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), its leadership has been working to establish a strong political outfit.
The move is aimed at maintaining a presence in mainstream politics while avoiding further bans and restrictions by the international community.
An official said that the Lashkar is planning a complete overhaul. While attention is being given to its terror operations, the bigger focus now is on being part of the mainstream.
"The recent decisions taken by the top leadership clearly indicate that it wants to get proscribed figures into the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League and give them legitimacy," the official said.
The PMML was originally founded as the MML. The change in name was effected after the Election Commission of Pakistan refused to recognise the party in 2018.
However, all its candidates contested under the banner of the Allah-o-Akbar Tehreek. In 2024, the PMML was floated and registered with the Election Commission of Pakistan. A properly structured party, it has a women’s wing as well as a students' wing called the Muslim Women’s League and the Muslim Students League, respectively.
“The main idea of the Lashkar in promoting this party is because it wants its cadres to work openly without the fear of being banned. Those cadres picked by the PMML are working in administrative posts, election campaigning, and also carrying out civic activism,” the official said.
Another official said that the main focus of the PMML currently is on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Punjab, and Sindh.
The PMML is looking to establish itself in a big way in Pakistan. Starting out in these regions helps it insert itself into mainstream national politics. Punjab is a populous province and serves as the political heartland of Pakistan.
"Gaining a foothold in Punjab is crucial for the PMML to claim nationwide relevance. Sindh and KP have huge urban centres such as Karachi and Peshawar. These are influential blocks and are useful when a party sets out to build a massive electoral base," the official said.
The LeT is also using the PMML’s Muslim Students League to expand its reach across universities and colleges in Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The party believes that recruiting students and unemployed youth is crucial to strengthening its presence at the grassroots level and building a wider political base.
To manage the political wing, the leadership has appointed Muzammil Iqbal Hashmi as President for Punjab, Main Saqib Hussain as President of Political Affairs for KP, and US-designated terrorist Shahid Mahmood as the President for Sindh.
Officials say that the Lashkar is making a clear distinction between its terror front and political front. Interestingly, the outfit wants to keep both fronts separate and has kept its founder Hafiz Saeed and his son Talha Saeed out of the political operations.
Saeed will continue to command the Lashkar as chief, while Talha Saeed will remain second-in-command.
An Intelligence Bureau official said that this distinction that the Lashkar has set out to make is aimed at a long-drawn game.
At any cost, it wants to avoid the JuD and MML situations whereby a ban was effected. Such bans stall operations, as it takes time before the outfits are restructured. Moreover, the LeT too needs to stay away from the limelight as it needs time to regroup and launch major strikes in India, the official said.