Proscribed Jamaat-ud-Dawa group appeals to UN
By Syed Irfan Raza
Wednesday, 04 Feb, 2009 | 09:56 PM PST |
ISLAMABAD: Islamic charity organization Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) suspected of links with outlaw militant group Lashkar-i-Tayiba - has appealed to the United Nations to lift the ban against it and denied links with Al-Qaeda, Taliban and the Mumbai attacks.
The appeal stated that the UN decision had been made in haste and was detrimental to the interests of Pakistan and the millions of beneficiaries who were directly or indirectly benefiting from JuDs services.
The UN imposed a ban on the JuD on the request of India for its involvement in the Mumbai attacks of November 2008 that claimed over 170 lives. Soon after, the government in Pakistan launched a massive crackdown against the organization, arresting 71 leaders, putting 124 others under observation, closing five training camps and sealing its offices.
We categorically make it clear and declare that Jammat ud Dawa is neither an associate of Al-Qaeda, Usama bin Laden nor the Taliban, hence the embargo imposed is materially in contradiction to that set out in their rules and highly unjustified under the international law of human dignity and freedom, Hafiz Saeed said.
He said Committee of the UN Security Councils decision was not based on any solid evidence and entirely relied on one sided-story of the Indian lobby devoid of any material facts brought about by an independent and impartial international jurisdictional and judicial system.
Jammat ud Dawa or Hafiz Muhammad Saeed have never ever supplied, sold or transferred arms or any related material to Al-Qaeda, Osama Bin Laden or Taliban and recruited any one for or on behalf of Al-Qaeda, Osama Bin Laden or Taliban nor have supported their acts or activities or any of their cell, affiliate, splinter group or even derivative group thereof, Saeed said.
The appeal reiterated that the JuD has no organizational or legal link with Lashkar-i-Tayiba and it was a legal, Pakistan based, charitable NGO, and all of its institutes and projects are registered in Pakistan.
It also rejected Indias claim that JuD or Hafiz Muhammad Saeed carried any association, link or connection with terrorists attack on Taj Mahal Hotel at Mumbai. JuD assures that it neither authorized directly or indirectly nor did they have any knowledge thereof Jammat ud Dawa and Hafiz Muhammad Saeed strongly condemn the said attacks and reaffirms that it does not prescribe to such means and methods of terrorist nature that kill innocent civilians and damage civilian property, the appeal said.
The appeal is timed to coincide with the visit of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon to Islamabad to visit government officials.
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