JuD linked to LeT without sharing proof with Pakistan: Nisar

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Interior Ch Nisar Ali Khan told the Senate Tuesday that the UNHCR had listed Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) as a resurrection of Laskar-e-Taiba (LeT) but no supporting evidence was shared with Pakistan to establish such a connection.
The interior minister noted during the question hour that currently JuD was placed under observation under S 11 D vide SRO No. 1040 (1) 2003 and it has been mentioned in all provinces for any suspect activity.
In response to a question by Senator Farhatullah Babar, the minister said that any organisation proscribed under S 11 B of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 was prohibited from any and all activities, including charity work under a different name.
Babar had asked whether it was fact that banned militant outfits were not allowed to work under a different name or as charity organisation. He also asked was it a fact that JuD was a resurrection of a banned organisation.
The minister pointed out that between 2008 and 2010, its offices were closed, however, relief was given by the Lahore High Court in WP 19705/2002. “Presently, JuD is engaged in charity and social work, operating hospitals, clinics, schools, ambulance service and religious institutions,” he noted.
To this, Senator Taj Haider revealed that JuD was holding congregations at 18 different places in Karachi and the Rangers provided it security. He objected to the services being rendered by the Rangers to JuD.
Federal Minister Abdul Qadir Baloch told the House that the LHC had allowed JuD to continue its charity work and in this connection, the government was helpless and could do nothing. On this, Senate Chairman, Mian Raza Rabbani, asked the minister was he in possession of a copy of the court order. He told the minister to produce the same Wednesday, when the latter said he did not have one.
Hafiz Hamdullah of JUI-Fazl came hard on the Balochistan government for its inability to check target-killings and made mention of several persons killed in recent few days in Quetta. He claimed that Afghanistan’s Khad secret agency was involved in target killing in the province. He alleged smugglers had been given a free hand in Balochistan.
Usman Kakar of Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) alleged the FC men and Customs officials were fleecing shopkeepers and even did not refrain from beating them up. He pointed out China claimed to have exports to Pakistan worth 15 billion dollars, whereas Pakistan claimed these were worth 9 billion dollars and wanted to know about the unaccounted for 6 billion dollars.
He charged those carrying ghee and flour were subjected to firing, alleging the Customs officials were not allowing people to do business, and there was no agriculture and industry in Balochistan.
The senator made an appeal to the NGOs and donor agencies to help Balochistan in provision of education, health and electricity facility. “If the government is not helping us, why not the donors do so,” he said.
Senator Samina Khalid raised the issue of non-issuance of visa to the principal of the Langlands School and College, Chitral, the only English medium institution in the district. She complained that Cambridge-qualified principal Carey Schofield had gone back to Britain for visa review, which was not made after in a hush-hush manner, Ch Nisar was approached for this purpose by some dismissed teachers of the school. She said the minister had been student of the former principal Major GD Langlands in Lahore, who has been brought back to lead the school again at 95 years of age.
The chair called on Leader of the House Raja Muhammad Zafarul Haq to look into the matter. Mukhtar Ahmad Dhamra urged the government to formulate a policy for Wapda’s linemen, who endanger their lives to fix power supply problems and many had lost their lives or got wounded due to sudden restoration of electricity. He also called for paying compensation to the affected families of the deceased and wounded linemen.
Azam Swati noted that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa produced electricity more than its own need and yet was faced with unscheduled load-shedding and problems in its supply, resulting in burning of domestic equipments.
A massive mountain, Senator Talha Mehmood noted, in Mianchar area of Gilgit-Baltistan had developed cracks and could cause a major disaster. On approaching the Geological Department, he came to know that the government could treat this problem to avert a tragedy.
Tahir Hussain Mashhadi called for a proper inquiry into the train tragedy that claimed lives of military officers and men recently. Senator Attique Sheikh warned against imposition of withholding tax on banking transaction, saying this could lead to unrest and people would start keeping cash at homes.
The House unanimously adopted two bills: the bill to amend the Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils Act, 1973; the Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils (Amendment) Bill, 2015 and the bill to amendment the Seed Act, 1976.
The Balochistan government was assailed for its failure to stop target killing of Hazaras, Punjabis and Urdu-speaking inhabitants in Quetta and elsewhere and it was alleged that these people were being targeted by the land mafia with the backing of the provincial government, forcing them to sell their properties on throw-away prices. It was alleged that the customs officials were involved in coercion for extortion from locals, who carried wheat, sugar and other items for earning livelihood.