Pakistan police stops JuD caravan for Kashmir

Lahore, Aug 2: A caravan of relief material mobilized by the JuD in Pakistan for distribution in the Kashmir Valley was halted on Tuesday (Aug 2) near the Line of Control (LoC), triggering protests, officials said.

The caravan of dozens of trucks and ambulances left Muzzafarabad in Pakistani Kashmir early on Tuesday for Srinagar and was stopped by police in Chakothi village near the LoC. [Hafiz Saeed warns of countrywide protest if Rajnath Singh visits Pak]

The vehicles are loaded with essential supplies like rice, oil, fresh and dry vegetables, clarified butter, baby food and medicines. There were also ambulances with doctors and para-medics.

The relief materials and ambulances were put together by Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation (FIF), charity wing of the proscribed Jamat-ud-Dawa (JuD) Islamist group.

The group is headed by Hafeez Saeed, the alleged mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack for whose capture the US has announced a bounty of $10 million.

Although the JuD is outlawed in Pakistan, it is known to operate more or less freely through its various fronts. Sayeed frequently addressed public rallies.

People in the caravan staged a noisy demonstration in Chakothi, insisting that they be allowed to proceed to the Kashmir Valley in India, the FIF said.

"The caravan will not leave this place till the material is sent to the Kashmiri people who are suffering from over three weeks due to the Indian atrocities," it said.

Hafiz Abdul Rouf of FIF said markets in the Kashmir Valley were shut due to curfew and restrictions and that Kashmiris were suffering badly.

"If the two countries can use this route for trade, why can't it be used for humanitarian relief?" he asked.

The widespread protests in the Kashmir Valley following the killing of militant Burhan Wani has claimed over 50 lives and injured more than 3,000 people.

IANS