ISLAMABAD - The government on Tuesday gave indication in the Upper House of the Parliament that Jamaatud Dawa (JuD), a charity organization, would unlikely to be banned in near future saying that UN had not shared any supporting evidence with Pakistan to establish that JuD was the resurrection of defunct Lashkar-e-Taiba.
However, the government for the first time told the house in black and white that Jamaat ud Dawa and Falah-e-Insaniyat, the two charity organizations, are suspected to be the new names of banned Lashkar-e-Taiba and had not been banned in Pakistan but only facing international sanctions as a result of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR)
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan in his written reply in response to a question of Senator Farhatullah Babar told the house that UNSCR had listed JUD as an alias of Lishkar-e-Taiba but supporting evidence had not been shared with Pakistan to establish such connection. “JuD has been on observation under Section 11 D of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 since 15 November, 2003,” he said adding that any organization proscribed under Section 11 B of ATA 1997 was prohibited from any activities including charity work under a different name. “The activities of JUD are monitored by law enforcement agencies and if report of any of such activity (having connection with Laskar-e-Taiba) that fulfils requirement of Section 11 B of ATA was presented, the organization shall be proscribed,” he said.
The minister told the Senate that currently JUD was placed under observation under Section 11 D of ATA vide SRO no 1040 (1)/2003 E.No. 7/26/2001-Pol.1 (3) (iv) dated 15 November 2003 and monitored in all provinces for any suspected activity. He said that its offices were closed between 2008 and 2010 but Lahore High Court (LHC) gave it relief and these were re-opened. Presently, JUD is engaged in charity and social work, operating hospitals, clinics, schools, ambulance service and religious institutions, Nisar said.
He also said that banned Jaish-e-Mohammad was suspected to be running charities with the names of six organizations including Khuddamul Islam, banned; Jamiatul Furqan banned; Al-Akhtar Trust, UNSCR listed; Al-Rasheed Trust, UNSCR listed; Al-Rehmat Trust, US listed and Al-Anfaaal Trust, US listed.
Separately, Senator Samina Khalid of PTI raised before the house that Ministry of Interior had cancelled the visa of UK based educationist Carey Schofield, who was principal of Langlands School and College Chitral since 2013, without any reason on the recommendation of the founder of the school Major Langlands who was the teacher of Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan. She said that Carey Schofield had introduced reforms in the school and had sacked some staff as an administrative measure.
Chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani sought report from the government on the issue.