Pak flip-flop: now all praise for NGO 'jihadi' groups' charity work

Islamabad, Aug.20 (ANI) : While the international community is concerned over extremist groups taking advantage of the devastating floods in Pakistan to win hearts of and minds of the victims, the Foreign Office (FO) has praised the work of these organisations working in the garb of charities.

Speaking during a regular briefing here, Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit commended the work carried out by the " non government organisations", saying they were complementing the government's efforts to counter the catastrophe.

"NGOs are working in the field and they are providing useful assistance, complementing the government's efforts and that is appreciated," The Dawn quoted Basit, as saying.

He disapproved of some of the charities having links with jihadi groups.

"It is all very easy to term any particular NGO as a jihadi organisation. I do not really know how you define a particular NGO as a jihadi organisation," Basit said.

Responding to a question regarding the slow international response to the calamity, he said despite a sluggish start the international assistance was picking up.

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Rehman Malik constituted a task force headed by a deputy inspector general (DIG) to identify and initiate action against all such charity organisations which have been banned by the government.

"The proscribed organisations or terrorist organisations would not be allowed to operate in the country under the garb of charity," a statement issued after a high level meeting , which was chaired by Malik, said. (ANI)