JuD among jihadi outfits openly involved in flood relief operations in Pak, finds survey

Islamabad, Sept 9 (ANI): Banned terrorist organisations such as Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT), Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) and Harkatul Islami have been actively involved in flood relief operations in Pakistan, a survey has found.

Banned Jihadi outfits have been collecting donations and goods for the flood victims in several regions of the country, the survey conducted by the Daily Times has revealed.

Whereas some quarters are lauding their relief activities and criticising the government's failure to deal with the crisis, their involvement has left security agencies worried.

"They are going kinetic and collecting funds which probably would never reach the victims. All this is being done right in front of our eyes. We are helpless," a senior Interior Ministry official said.

A top-ranked police official said that while there was no law to stop volunteers from doing humanitarian work, allowing the jihadists to work towards relief efforts "would be compromising whatever we did to counter terrorism in Pakistan."

Ataur Rehman, who heads Jamaat ud Dawa (JuD), said, "We are strictly working for humanity and in true spirit of Islam. The government had failed in providing relief efforts so we came in to fill the void by providing ambulances, boats and shelter."

"We pay the police to carry out our operations in Karachi since we are a banned organization," said a JuD member, identifying himself as Muhammad.

Interior Ministry sources have expressed their anguish over the Punjab government for not acting against the terrorist organisations involved in relief operations. (ANI)