We are charitable org; don't ban us: JuD to UN

Islamabad, Dec 16: Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), will be approaching the United Nations to request for the removal of restrictions imposed after UN banned it as a terrorist outfit in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks, said JuD spokesman on Monday, Dec 15.

"We are preparing to approach the UN to get it to take back the restrictions that have been imposed on us. We are not a terrorist group and are only involved in charitable activities," Jamaat spokesman Abdullah Muntazir said.

Muntazir told that his group was facing problems in framing a legal challenge to restrictions imposed on it as many activists had either been arrested or gone underground to avoid detention.

"Our communications have been affected, and we have not been able to frame a response as yet. But we do plan to take up this issue with the UN," he said. The Jamaat has no plans to approach the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as legal experts had informed it that the court could only take up matters raised by national governments. "The ICJ will not take up cases submitted by entities," Muntazir said.

"We don't expect the Pakistan government to take up our case with the ICJ. Look at the way it spoiled our case in the UN Security Council," he added. Muntazir alleged that the government had cracked down on the Jamaat without any valid reasons. "Even in the case of Jamaat amir (chief) Hafiz Mohammed Saeed, he was served papers giving the reasons for his detention three days after he was confined to his home," he said.

The Jamaat chief and his son Talha Saeed had earlier said the organisation would seek the arbitration of the ICJ but legal experts have said the court can only entertain states. Individuals, NGOs, UN organs and self-determination groups are excluded from direct participation in cases in the ICJ, the experts said.

Meanwhile, the Jamaat today launched an effort to refute accusations that it is linked to terrorist groups and to play up the relief and welfare activities its members have been carrying out. It claimed in a statement that thousands of survivors of the devastating 2005 and 2008 earthquakes in Kashmir and Balochistan would be hit by the closure of the Jamaat's offices and relief camps.

"The move would also affect poor people who receive free treatment and medicines at the Jamaat's free dispensaries across Pakistan. The closure of Jamaat facilities would also deprive the poor and orphans of monthly aid from the organisation," the statement said.

OneIndia News