'Banned' JuD brazenly collecting funds for flood relief in Lahore

Lahore, Aug.27 (ANI): Even as the international community continues to voice concerns over the involvement of extremist groups in flood relief activities, banned terror groups such as the Jamaat-ud-Daawa (JuD) are openly operating in cities like Lahore collecting funds for flood victims.

Despite the Pakistan Government's assurance that it would not allow any proscribed terror group to take advantage of prevalent chaos to push through its objective of winning the hearts and minds of people, several fund collection points have been set up by banned groups across Lahore.

Posters, banners and flags of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) can be seen displayed in and around these camps and extremists are seen openly collecting money from citizens, The Daily Times reports.

The JuD, which is working under its new name "Falah-e-Insaniyat" after being banned following the November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, had also published a front page advertisement in a prominent Urdu daily urging people to donate money and relief materials for the flood victims.

While the Gilani government has been struggling to collect funds for the flood-victims, the JuD claimed that it raises 120 million rupees daily, which is equal to the total amount the Prime Minister relief fund has with it.

Falah-e-Insaniat vice-president Mian Adil claimed that the group has raised nearly a million pound for the flood victims, ridiculing the Pakistan government's relief efforts.

President Asif Ali Zardari recently expressed fears of terrorists taking advantage of the crisis to push through their ulterior motives of gathering public support to weaken the government, and analysts also warned that these 'terror' charities dispensed ideology with their aid and have been able to capitalise on an unpopular government's failure to act decisively.

"These organisations operate every day at the grass roots so of course they can get in fast. It is now up to the government and secular groups to move in and take over," said Talat Masood, a noted military and political analyst. (ANI)