Superficial ban

According to a news report published in this paper, our Foreign Office has announced that Pakistan has frozen the accounts and assets of Hafiz Saeed-led Jamaatud Dawah (JuD). Foreign travel restrictions have also been imposed on JuD chief, Saeed. Many people termed it a paradigm shift in the country’s policy towards militancy. Unfortunately, our track record in this regard is not something to be proud of. We all know how bans work in this country: militant outfits change their names and continue to operate with impunity under a new name, including JuD (previously known as Lashkar-e-Taiba).
In response to the Foreign Office’s announcement, JuD spokesperson said that the organisation will continue to operate in the country. If I remember correctly, JuD was banned three times in the past – 2005, 2008 and 2012. Those three bans did not make a difference to this outfit’s operations. If the government is actually serious about the recent ban, it should show some spine. If they continue to roam our streets freely, it means this ban is a hoax like all previous bans.
Ali Agha
Faisalabad