ISLAMABAD: There is more to the burning of the Holy Qur'aan incident in Japan recently, than meets the eye and this is the reason that action from Japanese authorities is taking time.

According to governmental and non-governmental sources, both in Tokyo and Islamabad, the recent deplorable incident is only the tip of an iceberg in what is believed to be a struggle for financial survival by illegal Pakistani immigrants. "The incident is very complex and has many dynamics. Japanese and Pakistani authorities are in constant touch with each other over the issue through our embassies, both in Islamabad and Tokyo, and an official from Pakistan's mission also visited Toyama after the incident," a source told The News.

According to the source out of the 8,000 Pakistanis living in the Toyama city of Japan, over 5,000 are illegal immigrants involved in second hand car dealings, stolen car business, the drug mafia and sex gangs.

"Clearly, it is common knowledge in Tokyo that there are several groups trying to survive financially and jobs do not come easily. So the illegal immigrants are forced to take part in illegal underground activities. It is quite common that one such group goes to the Japanese local government in Tokyo and complains about the other, while at times Pakistani political forces representing their parties in Japan also get involved taking sides," claimed the source.

According to a copy of a letter sent to The News from Japan, Dr Michie Itoh, a member of Japan-Pakistan Association wrote to Pakistani mission in Tokyo, saying: The Pakistanis here are involved in theft (especially dealing with stolen cars), fighting, money fraud, murder by Islamic fundamentalists, etc. We Japanese can never think of these things while praying to God. Especially the Pakistani people living in Toyama are selling used cars to Russian people. Probably more than 50 per cent of them, are dealing with stolen cars even now and having sexual affairs with Russian women," he writes.

Giving a recent example Dr Michie Itoh says a Pakistani employee of his clinic was arrested by the police for dealing with stolen cars. "He was once convicted with 2-year imprisonment but later given 4-year suspension of sentence because I became a guarantor of him," he said in his letter.

Sources in Tokyo told The News that there are chances that the incident of Qur'aan burning could be part of the continuing rivalry amongst the groups, and could have been done to defame the other group. "At the moment all the Pakistanis are united on the issue," the source said.

Source: News International (May 31, 2001)