Paper short abstract:

By and large, the Pakistani Barelwis are submissive in their religio-political behavior. However, ST-a relatively new religio-political movement has some tendency towards militancy. In religious side they are rivals of Deobandis and in political field its targets are the MQM and Jama'at-i-Islami.

Paper long abstract:

Sunni Tehrik was organized in April 1990 in Karachi with the aims of safeguarding the Barelwis' religio-political rights. ST also vows to counter the religio-political activities of other sects, especially of the Deobandis. It also involved itself in restarting the battle of control over mosques, especially in the Punjab, started in the 1980s. In May 2001, Muhammad Salim Qadiri (1960-2001), leader of the ST was assassinated in Karachi. The tragic incident of Nishter Park, Karachi (April 11, 2006), was also a great setback for the ST and Barelwis, where almost all its frontline leadership and some seventy other prominent Barelwi ulama and leaders were killed in a bomb blast.

ST is an organization having country-wide influence. Due to its alleged involvement in militancy and schism, it has been put in watch list by the Government of Pakistan since January 2001. ST, now a full-fledged political party, also vowed to introduce new political culture in Pakistan based on the Islamic principals of polity.

Drawing on primary source material, an attempt will be made in this paper to discuss and analyze the religio-political stance of the ST and its emergence as a militant group.

Keywords: Sunni Tehrik, Barelwis, Militancy, Schism, Salim Qadiri