Pak Punjab govt funded JuD institutions in 2009

Lahore, Jun 16: Huge monetary aid of up to Rs 82.77 million was injected into the banned organisation, Jamaat-ud-Dawah and its allied institutions from the government of Pakistan's Punjab province.

Official documents of the supplementary budget for the past fiscal tabled in the Punjab Assembly for approval showed that the PML-N-led provincial government cleared grant of over Rs 79 million to the Markaz-e-Tayyaba, the JuD headquarters in Muridke near Lahore.

Besides this, 3 million was given as grants to schools run by the JuD in different districts of Punjab.

The funding to JuD was confirmed by Provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah. Speaking to a TV news channel on Tuesday, Jun 15, the minister that the money was given to these institutions after JuD was declared 'banned'.

In the wake of the Nov 2008, the UN Security Council declared the JuD a front for the banned Lashker-e-Taiba (LeT).

Sanaullah, who is known for his links with banned groups like the Sipah-e-Sahaba, justified the funding stating that the purpose of giving these grants was to continue welfare services provided by JuD's schools, dispensaries and hospitals.

A Punjab government spokesman also said that the grants for the JuD had been given to encourage the continuation of welfare services.

JuD, on the other hand, has denied receiving any money from the government.

"We are a welfare organisation and raise our own funds from the public for providing educational and healthcare services to help the people," said JuD spokesperson, Yahya Mujahid, and slammed the Sanaullah for making such statements.

OneIndia News